Prince George, B.C. – Those interested in learning the do’s and don’ts of composting should head over to the Recycling and Environmental Action Planning Society this week (REAPS). 

This is International Compost Awareness Week and REAPS has scheduled daily composting workshops to commemorate the occasion. 

Christine Reid, environmental educator, hard at work in the Compost Demonstration Garden – photo 250News

“It’s a week to look at composting,” says executive director Terri McClymont. “So getting rid of our kitchen waste, our garden waste, our lawn trimmings and putting them into use in our backyard compost.”

She says composting is something everyone should consider.

“If we put our kitchen waste into the garbage it goes into the landfill, it gets buried and creates methane gas. Methane gas is a greenhouse gas.

“We already have enough of that as it is and it’s contributing to climate change. By backyard composting we can create a rich valuable soil supplement and it’s free fertilizer for us.

McClymont recommends taking the following steps to prevent conflict with animals.

“Anytime you’re composting you always keep your food waste covered with a non-food source. So dig your food waste into an existing pile, make sure you turn it regularly because that prevents odours from escaping.

“Keep it moist and if you’re in a bear area and they’re habituated to come to your backyard or to turn over your composter, unfortunately you’re going to have to stop composting for a couple of years until the bear moves on.”

The workshops start at 2:00 p.m. each day this week through Friday at the Compost Demonstration Garden. It is located at 1950 Gorse Street (next to Exploration Place).