TAMPA, Fla. — It is becoming easier for some Tampa Bay area families to reduce the amount of waste they send to a landfill.
The City of Tampa is launching a backyard composting program for single-family home residents starting Friday, November 20.
About half of the residential waste coming from single-family homes in the city is currently composed of potentially compostable material.
The new program will help homeowners turn kitchen scraps and yard waste into nutrient-rich compost.
Tampa's Solid Waste & Environmental Program Management is managing the composting program.
It is offering free backyard composting bins and kitchen-scraps buckets to the first 500 families to sign up for the program.
"I'm really looking forward to diversifying our waste reduction program while educating our rate payers on the environmental benefits of effective composting," said Director, Mark Wilfalk. "The initiation of the Backyard Composting Program illustrates our commitment towards sustainability and the application of best practices in the solid waste management industry."
To be eligible, you must live in a single-family home with a yard and be a current City of Tampa Solid Waste customer.
Residents living in the New Tampa area of the city are not eligible.
Interested families first need to register online at www.tampagov.net/Compost and then complete a virtual workshop before receiving their free bin and bucket.
Participation in the progam is on a first-come first-served basis. Bins will be delivered within 10 business days after completing the workshop and signing a waiver form.
For more information, contact the City of Tampa Utilities Call Center at (813) 274-8811.
