Training Videos

A Beginner's Guide to Vermicomposting

July 28, 2023

Are you interested in turning the weeds you've pulled from your garden and those few rotten tomatoes into compost? The Iowa Waste Reduction Center's Environmental Specialist, Jason Clay walks you through how to setup and maintain a do-it-yourself vermicomposting bin. Rather than tossing food in a field to rot or throw it in the garbage where it ends up in the landfill, let the worms do the work and you will end up with an abundance of nutritious soil to add to your garden, potting plants, indoor plants or flower beds.

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Backyard Compost Training

September 12, 2023

Are you interested in turning the weeds you've pulled from your garden and those few rotten tomatoes into compost? The Iowa Waste Reduction Center's Food, Beverage & Organics Program Coordinator, Jennifer Trent walks you through how to setup and maintain a do-it-yourself compost pile. Rather than tossing food in a field to rot or throw it in the garbage where it ends up in the landfill, let nature do the work and you will end up with an abundance of nutritious soil to add to your garden, potting plants, indoor plants or flower beds.

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Permit-by-Rule Requirements for Small Compost Sites

September 19, 2023

This video will cover all applicable organics composting regulations when utilizing the permit-by-rule exemption. Regulatory requirements when implementing food waste composting projects at community gardens include the following: site selection of compost projects, contamination limits and tonnage limits, initial notification to the Iowa DNR, annual reporting requirements, and signage requirements.

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Food Waste Composting at Home 

June 24, 2015

Food waste composting at home can be simple. This video walks you through the basic steps to get started. Not only will you be reducing food waste, you'll produce less trash and turn it into a valuable resource that you can use in your garden and yard!

This material 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.

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