Collingswood is taking Mother Earth seriously and believes that we have a responsibility to make the planet, and Collingswood, more green. Several projects, businesses and events in the Borough are dedicated to doing just that.

Composting program
The Borough is sponsoring a program to reduce the waste stream and help handle garbage natrually! Residents can pick up an Earth Machine compost bin for just $10 (retailed at $80) and attend a half hour composting class taking place all day on Sunday, April 20 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Collingswood Community Center - guests can stop in any time that is convenient for them.

Interested families, homes, businesses and even apartment complexes should contact Carol Beals at 856-854-4440 or cbeals@collingswood.com. Reservations are needed to attend the class and prepay for a compost bin. The first 100 to sign up get a free gift!

So, you’ve picked up your fancy, schmansy compost bin, but where do you begin? Here’s a crash course on getting started:

There are some definite dos and don’ts when it comes to adding items to your bin. Toss in leaves, grass clippings, trimmings and weeds, but no branches or thick shrubbery (they take too long to decompose). Be generous with kitchen wastes like fruits and veggie scraps, cardboard rolls, clean paper, coffee grounds and filters, cotton rags, dryer and vacuum cleaner lint, nuts and eggshells (ground up), fireplace ashes, hair and fur, hay and straw, houseplants, sawdust, shredded newspaper, tea bags and wood chips. Steer clear of dairy, fats, meats, bones and chemically treated or coal items.

Put a coarse material, such as straw, at the bottom of your bin, then a first layer of green vegetable matter. Next add a thin layer of rich garden soil. Be sure to keep the pile loose and to circulate air through it by turning it occasionally. Your pile should feel slightly moist after awhile, like a wrung out sponge. It it’s too dry, spray it lightly with water. If it’s stinky, turn it more often. If it’s uniformly cool, dark and crumbly, then you’ve made yourself some picture perfect compost! Go sprinkle some of that goodness in your garden!

It can take anywhere from a month to a couple of years to turn your waste into compost depending on the types and quantities of materials used, temperature, moisture and amount of air in the mix. This is just a taste of composting - for more info check out resources online.

Volunteers needed!
Those trees in Knight Park don’t prune themselves, you know!
Volunteers are needed to keep the park in tip top shape! Get involved by helping plant trees, restoring the pavillion and mainting the green spaces in our community. Even one weekend is enough to contribute a lot. To get on board email Commissioner Mike Hall or call Commissioner Joan Leonard at 856-858-4545.

Show your dedication
A tree and bench in Knight Park can be bought together for $500 to honor someone you love or just bring some new life to Collingswood. Trees and benches are not only a tribute but also lend a hand in the current effort to restore Knight Park to all its glory. Call Commissioner Joan Leonard at 856-858-4545 to learn more about dedications.