BACKYARD COMPOSTING WORKSHOPS
Our Backyard Composting Workshops allow those who attend to get an understanding of how to get started composting in their own backyards. Each workshop lasts for about 1.5 hours and attendees receive one free backyard compost tumbler and one free food scrap collection bin. These workshops are hosted in conjunction with our Compost Project partners.
More information about upcoming workshops will be posted here when it becomes available. If you'd like to be the first to know when tickets for our events go on sale, follow our Eventbrite to be notified.
Another Backyard Composting Workshop is here! This workshop will be held February 17th, 2024 from 10 AM to 12 PM at the Public Works Complex (3131 Morris Ave). Dr. Neal Denton of the UT Agriculture Extension Office will speak during the workshop. Attendees will receive 1 free backyard compost tumbler & 1 countertop food scrap collection bin per household! Tickets go live February 2nd, 2024. We look forward to seeing you there!
Stay tuned for updates!
Free Compost Bins for Community Gardens
Interested in producing and using your own compost? Fill out our Google form
here to apply for a free three-bin, lidded composting system for your community garden!
USDA Grant Award: Community Compost and Food Waste Reduction (CCFWR)
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released news of a funding opportunity for local governments across America to host a
Community Compost and Food Waste Reduction pilot project in 2020. The CCFWR program aimed to encourage and promote urban, indoor, and other emerging agricultural practices to reduce food waste and expand community composting efforts. The grant was made possible through funds from the American Rescue Plan Act. The City of Knoxville applied for the grant in 2022 and was awarded funding in March 2023.
Today, those funds are being used to expand the scope of The Knoxville Compost Project. There are now multiple food scrap drop-off sites, free backyard composting workshops, and other opportunities for residents to get involved!
Nourish Knoxville: Saturday Farmers' Market
Nourish Knoxville is a non-profit organization that supports healthy communities by shortening the distance between local farmers, producers, and the public. Their Saturday Market Square Farmers' Market hosts a multitude of vendors within a 150-mile radius of the Knoxville area.
With the expansion of The Knoxville Compost Project, the City of Knoxville Waste and Resources Management Office is partnering with Nourish Knoxville to host a food scrap drop-off bin at their Saturday Farmers' Market (open 9 AM to 1 PM) from May 6 to November 18. The food scrap bin will be located at our Compost Info Table on the Market Square Stage, facing out toward Wall Ave. A map with the location of the booth can be found here.