The Clark County Composter Recycler teaches the community how compost and recycle. Come to a free workshop to learn easy ways to keep our planet and your home healthy.
Or, become a Composter Recycler volunteer and make a difference in your community!
Workshops
The Composter Recycler hosts free workshops. Learn how to reduce your impact on the planet by composting, green cleaning, recycling, preventing food waste and reducing holiday waste.
Families are welcome.
Register for an upcoming workshop.
Volunteer program
Consider becoming a certified Composter Recycler volunteer!
The training program gives you the skills and knowledge to become a sustainability ambassador.
In the training, you’ll learn about composting, recycling, green living and more. Volunteers who finish the course give back by sharing what they've learned at workshops, events, and by maintaining compost sites.
Join others who care about the planet and make a difference in your community as a certified Composter Recycler volunteer! We’re accepting applications now.
Compost demonstration sites
The Composter Recycler program maintains two composting demonstration sites in Clark County. The public is invited to visit the sites to learn about different systems of home composting and how compost can be used. Composter Recycler volunteers maintain these demonstration sites. The sites are also used for workshops.
Please check out the workshop registration page to learn more about upcoming workshops hosted at these sites.
tag
The CASEE Compost Demonstration Site is located at the Center for Agriculture Science and Environmental Education at 11104 NE 149th in Brush Prairie. The composting demonstration site is located at the west end of the NatureScaping Wildlife Botanical Gardens. The site is open to the public from dawn to dusk. Educational signage guides visitors through an informative tour of various composting methods.
The 78th Street Heritage Farm Compost Demonstration Site is located at 1919 NE 78th St in Vancouver in the Hazel Dell area.
How to compost
There are many systems for composting yard waste and kitchen scraps in your backyard. You can visit one of our compost demonstration sites to see various bins and systems in use.
tag
The two basic backyard composting methods are fast (also called batch or hot composting), and slow (also known as you go or cold) composting. With the faster hot composting method, the end product can be higher quality, but the amount of work needed to turn and monitor your pile is greater. With cold composting, not as much work is needed, but it can take several months to a year to get usable compost.
SMART is an acronym for the compost factors you should pay attention to for best results:
S: Size
This includes the size of your pile and the pieces you put in it. Your pile should be at least 3x3x3 feet in size(for a hot pile). Woody pieces of material should be less than 2″ in diameter.
M: Moisture
Keep the pile as moist as a wrung-out sponge. You can mist it with a hose as you add new material.
A: Aeration
Turn your compost occasionally. You want to mix the materials to enable oxygen to get into the pile. If utilizing the hot composting method, try to get the pile hot and turn it once the temperature drops.
R: Ratio
Materials added to compost bins are grouped into two categories: browns and greens. Browns include dried materials like straw, shredded paper, sawdust and dried leaves. Greens include materials like fruit and vegetable scraps, coffee grounds and grass clippings. Add the same amount of browns and greens, by volume. An easy way to remember this is “equal parts of green and brown help to break the compost down.”
T: Tools
Find the best compost system for you and tool recommendations.
tag
Red wigglers (Eisenia fetida) are the worm of choice for home vermicomposting, which is composting with worms. There are a number of local sources in the Clark County area for purchasing redworms. It’s always a good idea to call ahead for availability and pricing. One half pound is typically a good amount to start a worm bin.
If you want to purchase redworms, we recommend you enter “buy redworms” in your search engine to find the best source and price for you.
How to green clean
Many cleaning agents used in homes contain ingredients that expose your family to potentially harmful chemicals. These chemicals also negatively impact our watersheds. In fact, many of these cleaning agents are classified as household hazardous waste. For a fraction of the cost of store-bought cleaning agents, you can use effective products that you make yourself.
Learn how to make green cleaners from the Composter Recyclers, and reduce the amount of household hazardous waste you produce.
What is household hazardous waste (HHW)?
Household hazardous waste (HHW) is any waste generated from the use of a product containing hazardous materials. If misused or improperly disposed of, HHW can pose a threat to human health or the environment. To identify potentially hazardous products, look for words on the product label such as poison, danger, warning, caution or flammable. Most household hazardous wastes are generated from automotive products, household cleaners, paints, solvents and pesticides.
One of the best ways to avoid exposure to household hazardous materials is to use safer alternatives whenever possible. The Composter Recycler program helps community members create safer and healthier indoor environments. We aim to limit the use of household hazardous waste and reduce the environmental and health impacts of chemicals used in the home.
Contact information
Solid Waste and Recycling Division
564.397.7352
Email
Newsletter sign up
Get green news straight to your email inbox. Keep up on all the latest workshops, volunteer opportunities and community events!
Request a presentation
Presentations are available at no cost to neighborhood associations, homeowners' associations and community organizations operating within Clark County.
RecycleRight tool
Download the RecycleRight app (available on Apple and Android devices):
- View collection schedule.
- Sign up for reminders and service alerts.
- Look up donation, recycle and disposal options with the Recycling A-Z directory.