Residents have a new way to save money and help the environment now that Richland County Solid Waste & Recycling is offering compost bins.

The large black compost bins can be purchased for $54.90 and come with a small plastic receptacle that can be placed on a kitchen countertop to hold food scraps and transport them to the outdoor bin. A box of compostable bags is included to help keep the countertop receptacle clean.

“This new compost bin program was started with the help of the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control as a way to encourage backyard composting,” said Richland County Recycling Coordinator Shirley Mims. “We hope residents will take advantage of the low cost of these compost bins and will enjoy the natural process of turning food waste into chemical-free fertilizer.”

In addition to providing residents with an easy way to create their own fertilizer, the compost bins help reduce the amount of biodegradable kitchen waste that gets tossed into trash cans and can reduce water bills since compost retains soil moisture. Using homemade compost also cuts back on the usage of chemical fertilizers, which can become hazardous runoff into local waterways.

Residents interested in purchasing a compost bin with the countertop receptacle should call the Ombudsman at 803-929-6000 for details about how to place an order. Bins can then be paid for with a credit or debit card and picked up at the County’s C&D Landfill, located at 1070 Caughman Road North, off Monticello Road, from 7 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

For more information about the services offered by Richland County Solid Waste & Recycling, click here.