Registration deadline is March 27

 BRIDGEWATER - The Somerset County Division of Solid Waste Management and Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Somerset County will be holding backyard-composting workshops for Somerset County residents on Wednesday, April 3, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. and 6:30 to 8 p.m.

The workshops will be held at the Ted Blum 4-H Center, located at 310 Milltown Road .  A $50 registration fee includes the workshop, a compost bin and literature.  Registration is required by Wednesday, March 27.

Participants will learn how to compost kitchen and yard debris into a "black gold" organic material for use in the yard and garden, as well as for houseplants.

The program also will include a brief presentation, titled "Cut It & Leave It," and other environmentally friendly lawn-care strategies.

Composting reduces the amount of discarded garbage, acts as a natural fertilizer by returning nutrients to the soil, improves soil aeration and reduces soil diseases. It also helps to conserve the Earth's resources.

For more information and to register, contact Recycling Coordinator Melissa Harvey, Somerset County Division of Solid Waste Management, at (908) 231-7109 or harvey@co.somerset.nj.us. A registration form is available at www.co.somerset.nj.us/recycle/composting.html .