Save Green, Think Green at Composting Workshop

Morris Plains is on its way to becoming a green community, and on Saturday residents can learn how to make energy-efficient changes in their own homes.

The borough will be hosting a special program about backyard composting and rain barrels this Saturday, April 14 at 1:30 p.m. 

The program, "As the Worm Turns," will be presented by environmental educator Virginia Lamb, who will first start with slides and handouts, and then have a demonstration outside about composting. Lamb has more than 25 years experience in environmental education, and specializes in composting, waste reduction, organic gardening, and school gardens.

The event is free and open to the public, and will be held at the r. This is the first time the borough has held an event of this type.

Penny Jones, one of the event organizers, said she has seen Lamb's presentation before, and that she makes the presentation interesting and simple for the audience to understand.

"She explains the process and emphasizes that it does not have to be a terribly difficult task or process at all," Jones said. "Hopefully as a result people will be motivated to start backyard composting."

Jones said that composting saves a lot of energy and money. If you put your compostable material to be picked up for garage, a truck would take it to a landfill in Pennsylvania. The truck requires labor costs, and it uses fossil fuels, which cause air pollution. By backyard composting you can help avoid the costs and keep the organic materials on your property, she said.

"It's just a really good thing to do," said Jones. "I just get a really good feeling knowing I'm keeping this out of the garbage itself, so I'm hoping the people who attend will be sufficiently inspired that they will want to do backyard composting."

Residents who attend "As the Worm Turns" will be able to place orders for their own compost bins and rain barrels that will be distributed on Saturday, May 19 at the parking lot. Jones said that the sale isn't exclusive to Morris Plains, so all members of surrounding towns are encouraged to attend as well.

Jones is a member of the Sustain the Plains Committee of Morris Plains, which is sponsoring the event. The committee was formed last fall, and is working to help the borough become a certified sustainable community. In order to be certified, Morris Plains must receive a certain amount of credits in the Sustainable Jersey Program by participating in environmentally friendly activities across several categories.

The category that "As the Worm Turns" is receiving credit in is backyard composting. Some of the other activities that allow points are a Safe Routes to School program, which encourages children to walk and bike to school, and creating school and community gardens. Once the town receives a certain amount of points, they become certified.

"Our goal is to try to get certified by the end of this year, and we think we're well on our way to doing that," said councilwoman Laurie Fu, who also helped organize the event.

To reach the bronze level in certification, the town needs 150 points. Each activity is about 10 points.

The committee has already created a community garden, switched to single stream recycling, and participated in a farmers market for some of their activities. Fu said that the committee is currently working to get the school more involved, such as having an assembly program.

For more information about "As the Worm Turns" call 973-285-8395.