Help yourself, help your wallet and help the earth. Purchase a rain barrel and/or a compost bin from the Recycling Association of Minnesota (RAM). Compost bins cost $66 plus tax and rain barrels cost $79 plus tax.
Ramsey County residents receive $20 off compost bins. Use the promo code “ramsey” to get the discount.
Home composting can help trim your trash and produce free garden mulch or soil supplement at the same time. Use your bin to compost food scraps, including fruit and vegetable peels, breads, pastas, grains, coffee grounds and filters, eggshells and tea bags. Yard wastes such as leaves, grass and garden waste can also be composted.
Microbes convert the material to a useful organic soil amendment or mulch. Gardeners use compost to improve soil and add nutrients needed for plant growth. Incorporating compost into light, sandy soil helps it hold moisture and nutrients, while adding it to heavy soil improves drainage.
Collecting rainwater also offers many advantages to homeowners. Rainwater is naturally soft, with no minerals, chlorine, fluoride or other chemicals. This helps improve the health of lawn and gardens. Rain barrels can hold up to 45 gallons of water, reducing water usage and saving money.
RAM offers several dates and locations throughout the metro area to pick up compost bins and rain barrels. Order bins or barrels at www.recycleminnesota.org or call 651-641-4560.