Compost training through the Iowa Waste Reduction Center to take place July 7 at Robey Memorial Library in Waukon

Monday, July 7 from 1-4 p.m., the Iowa Waste Reduction Center (IWRC) at the University of Northern Iowa will bring its Rural Compost Operations and Compost Use Training Project to Robey Memorial Public Library in Waukon. This free, in-person training is part of a USDA-funded initiative through the Rural Utilities Service to help rural communities across the Midwest reduce organic waste and protect water quality.

Local residents, farmers, municipal employees, parks and recreation staff, conservation organizations, community leaders, construction personnel, and other regional entities are invited to take part in a unique, hands-on training event that turns organic waste into a powerful tool, compost, to help remediate and protect rivers, lakes, and streams from pollutants.

During the July 7 training, participants will receive:
• Step-by-step guidance on composting using best management practices while learning hands-on field exercises to help troubleshoot and gauge the health of an active compost pile.
• Training on how to prevent and remediate pollutants from contaminating local waterways by using compost including rain gardens, filter berms and more. 
• On-site technical assistance and classroom instruction from composting experts.

Whether a farmer, municipal worker, school staff member, or simply a resident interested in composting, this training will equip attendees with the tools to start or improve a composting program - and help protect local rivers, lakes and streams in the process.

All training materials will be provided and will also be available online at https://iwrc.uni.edu/food-beverage/usda/rural-compost-operations-and-use, so the knowledge can be shared and replicated beyond the event. A video of what the Backyard Compost Training may entail can be found online at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khLY8DoWuKw.

The material presented in the training is based upon work supported under a grant by the Rural Utilities Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Rural Utilities Service.

Contact Molly Wells, Communications & Public Relations Manager at the University of Northern Iowa - Iowa Waste Reduction Center, for more information at 319-273-4307 or molly.wells@uni.edu. Additional information can also be found by contacting Jennifer Trent at jennifer.trent@uni.edu. Follow the Iowa Waste Reduction Center Facebook page to keep tabs on the project and learn where other trainings will be held.

The Iowa Waste Reduction Center has been providing environmental services, including technical assistance and industry training, as well as research and development, for over 30 years. The IWRC is a part of the University of Northern Iowa’s Business and Community Services which strives to build a better Iowa through hands-on technical assistance for economic and business development, entrepreneurship, environmental improvement and enhanced sustainability. For more information, visit iwrc.uni.edu.