Baltimore County Rain Barrel, Compost Bin Sale Saturday

From Baltimore County officials:

Baltimore County will host a joint compost bin and rain barrel sale on Saturday, April 27, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The sale will be held on the auxiliary parking lot of The Avenue at White Marsh, 8125 Honeygo Boulevard (the parking lot is off of Town Center Drive, behind the AMC Theaters).

Compost bins, valued at $100, will be sold for $35 each. Rain barrels, valued at $120, will be sold for $50 each. Both prices include tax. Cash, checks and credit cards (Visa, MasterCard and Discover) will be accepted.

The sale will occur rain or shine and all items will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis (while supplies last). This sale is not limited to residents of Baltimore County.

Compost bins are shipped in two pieces and will fit in all cars. Rain barrels are shipped in one piece and will fit in most cars. Please plan accordingly for the products you intend to purchase.

Through decomposition, composting converts yard materials (grass, leaves, and small brush) into a rich soil-enhancing material called humus. When this material is mixed with the soil in your gardens or on your lawn, it returns nutrients such as phosphorus, potassium, nitrogen and many trace minerals that are beneficial for plant health and growth.

Using compost also helps increase water retention in sandy soils and aids drainage in heavy and clay soils. Please note that to prevent problems with rodents and other animals, the Baltimore County Code prohibits placing any type of food material in compost piles or bins.

Collecting and reusing rainwater is a great way to help the environment and your garden because rainwater is free from chlorine and other water treatment chemicals. Using a rain barrel reduces water pollution that can at times be caused by stormwater runoff.

The sale is a joint effort of Baltimore County's Department of Public Works, Bureau of Solid Waste Management and the Department of Environmental Protection and Sustainability.

For more information about this event, please visit the Bureau of Solid Waste Management's web site.