International Compost Awareness Week- May 8-13, 2023

ICAW-Poster-Winner2023Celebrated annually, International Compost Awareness Week (ICAW) is designed to promote the benefits of composting and compost itself for effective resource management, soil health, and plant growth.

ICAW is promoted by holding group activities and events throughout the week. 

The events are sponsored locally by ACC Recycling Division, Keep Athens-Clarke County Beautiful, UGA Cooperative Extension, ACC Library, and the State Botanical Garden of Georgia. 

For any questions please contact: recycle@accgov.com

Organizers logos

ALL WEEK

On Social Media

From story times to videos and more, be sure to follow us on social media for more composting fun!

 @accsolidwaste  @kaccb @athensclarkelibrary @botgarden

Get Caught Composting!

Post your best photos getting caught in the act of composting or using compost! Be sure to tag your photo with @accsolidwaste and #caughtcompostinginGA, #composting, #icaw, #getcaughtcomposting. Also, check out our social media pages to see who else is composting in Athens.

How compost helps your gardenHalf-Price Compost Sale

$10/cubic yard - Limit of 5 yards per customer. 

Athens-Clarke County Landfill and Composting Facility
5700 Lexington Road
Winterville, GA 30683

Monday - Saturday (9:00 am – 3:00 pm) 

No-Charge Residential Food Scrap Drop-Off Program

Residents can bring buckets of food scraps and other compostable material for no charge to be composted. For what can composted visit accgov.com/Compost-Drop-Off-Program or email recycle@accgov.com. 

Bring to the locations listed below:

CHaRM
1005 College Ave.
Athens, GA 30605
Rollcarts are located outside the gate
Available 24/7

Athens-Clarke County Extension Office
275 Cleveland Rd
Bogart, GA 30622
Rollcart located at the storage building
Available 24/7


Solid Waste Administrative Office
725 Hancock Industrial Way
Athens, Ga 30605
Rollcart located outside to the right of the entrance
Available 24/7

UGA Health Sciences Campus
101 Bowtrom Road
Available 24/7

Athens-Clarke County Landfill
5700 Lexington Road
Winterville, GA 30683
Mon-Fri 7:30 AM-4:30 PM
Sat 7:30 AM-3 PM



Monday, May 8th

Garden Gnome Compost Program

10:00 AM-Noon (Drop-in)

UGA State Botanical Garden of Georgia Children's Garden
2450 S Milledge Ave, Athens, GA 30605
The Garden Gnomes docent program is offered multiple times a week in the children’s garden. This is a free 5 to 10-minute activity led by the garden staff and volunteers that encourages kids of all ages to engage in different ways with the galleries in the garden. Look for tables set up throughout the garden during your visit to participate.

Food Service Composting Workshop

2:00-3:00 PM

ACC Solid Waste Department
 725 Hancock Industrial Way, Athens, GA 30605
Why compost Opens in new windowIs your restaurant, cafeteria, or food truck interested in composting? This workshop will share best practices for adding compost to your business, how to select compostable wares, the requirements of Policy SW-021 for Public Events, and answer your questions to help you get ready to start composting. Sign up for composting at the class and get the first 30 days for free.

ACC Commercial Composting Facility Tour

3:30-4:00 PM

ACC Landfill & Composting Facility
5700 Lexington Road, Winterville, GA 30683
Athens-Clarke County composts food scraps, leaf & limb, and biosolids through a process called aerated static piles. See this new technique in action. Closed-toe shoes are required; boots are recommended. If you are interested in a tour, please email recycle@accgov.com.

Tuesday, May 9th

Compost Giveaway

10:00 AM - 7:00 PM

CHaRM
1005 College Ave, Athens, GA 30601
Wondering what the big deal is all about with using compost? Does it really improve your soil and help plants to be healthier and bigger? Will I really see fewer pests and diseases? Can I really water my plants less if I add compost? Come out to CHaRM and get a free sample. Bring your own container and shovel up and see for yourself.

Wednesday, May 10th

Garden Gnome Compost Program

10:00 AM-Noon (Drop-in)

UGA State Botanical Garden of Georgia Children's Garden
2450 S Milledge Ave, Athens, GA 30605
The Garden Gnomes docent program is offered multiple times a week in the children’s garden. This is a free 5 to 10-minute activity led by the garden staff and volunteers that encourages kids of all ages to engage in different ways with the galleries in the garden. Look for tables set up throughout the garden during your visit to participate.

Compost Storytime

10:30 AM

Athens-Clarke County Library
 2025 Baxter St, Athens, GA 30606
Join us for a story about composting.

Compost Giveaway

10:00 AM - 7:00 PM

CHaRM
1005 College Ave, Athens, GA 30601
Wondering what the big deal is all about with using compost? Does it really improve your soil and help plants to be healthier and bigger? Will I really see fewer pests and diseases? Can I really water my plants less if I add compost? Come out to CHaRM and get a free sample. Bring your own container and shovel up and see.

UGA Extension Green Thumb Lecture with Suki Janssen - Composting 101

6:00-7:30 PM

UGA Extension Office
Register at www.accgov.com/gardening.
Please join us at 6:00 PM for an informative presentation on basic concepts and the importance of efficient composting, materials for composting, and recommended structures and methods. Gardeners of all experience levels are welcome. Register here: www.accgov.com/gardening

Thursday, May 11th

Pre-K Program Sweet Pea Club

10:15-11:00 AM

UGA State Botanical Garden of Georgia Children's Garden
2450 S Milledge Ave, Athens, GA 30605
Join the State Botanical Garden of Georgia education team for Sweet Pea Club at the Alice H. Richards Children’s Garden. Families will join one another for a morning of adventure in the garden through a variety of activities that can include songs, puppets, stories, hikes and games. This week will highlight our soil. The Sweet Pea Club program is an informal way to give young naturalists and their adult helpers a better understanding of the importance of our shared earth. This program is geared toward ages 3-5. Please note that this event will not take place during inclement weather. Registration is required. Please visit https://botgarden.uga.edu/event/sweet-pea-club/2023-04-13/ to register.

Friday, May 12th

Garden Gnome Compost Program

10:00 AM-Noon (Drop-in)

UGA State Botanical Garden of Georgia Children's Garden
2450 S Milledge Ave, Athens, GA 30605
The Garden Gnomes docent program is offered multiple times a week in the children’s garden. This is a free 5 to 10-minute activity led by the garden staff and volunteers that encourages kids of all ages to engage in different ways with the galleries in the garden. Look for tables set up throughout the garden during your visit to participate.

Edible Compost Teen Activity

4:00-5:00 PM

Athens-Clarke County Library
2025 Baxter St, Athens, GA 30606
Join us for edible compost activities.

Saturday, May 13th

Garden Gnome Compost Program

10:00 AM-Noon (Drop-in)

UGA State Botanical Garden of Georgia Children's Garden
2450 S Milledge Ave, Athens, GA 30605
The Garden Gnomes docent program is offered multiple times a week in the children’s garden. This is a free 5 to 10-minute activity led by the garden staff and volunteers that encourages kids of all ages to engage in different ways with the galleries in the garden. Look for tables set up throughout the garden during your visit to participate.

Compost Bins for Sale

8:00 AM-Noon

Athens Farmers Market- Bishop Park
 705 Sunset Drive, Athens, GA, 30606 
Ready to start composting at home? Earth Machine Compost bins are available from Keep Athens-Clarke County Beautiful for $52 (tax included). You may purchase online using a credit card at accgov.com/kaccbcomposting. KACCB will contact you to arrange for contact-free pick-up when we receive your order. Master Gardeners will also be selling compost bins at the Athens Farmers Market and Winterville Marigold Farmers Market. 

Compost Bins for Sale

10:00 AM-2:00 PM

Winterville Marigold Farmers Market
115 Parkview Rd, Winterville, Georgia 30683
Ready to start composting at home? Earth Machine Compost bins are available from Keep Athens-Clarke County Beautiful for $52 (tax included). You may purchase online using a credit card at accgov.com/kaccbcomposting. KACCB will contact you to arrange for contact-free pick-up when we receive your order. Master Gardeners will also be selling compost bins at the Athens Farmers Market and Winterville Marigold Farmers Market. 
Shop online: https://marigoldmarket.square.site/

Compost Giveaway

8:00 AM - 12:00 PM

CHaRM
1005 College Ave, Athens, GA 30601
Wondering what the big deal is all about with using compost? Does it really improve your soil and help plants to be healthier and bigger? Will I really see fewer pests and diseases? Can I really water my plants less if I add compost? Come out to CHaRM and get a free sample. Bring your own container and shovel up and see.

ACC Commercial Composting Facility Tour

11:00-11:30 AM

ACC Landfill & Composting Facility
5700 Lexington Road, Winterville, GA 30683
Come see how we compost all your food scraps, biosolids, leaf, and limb debris! If you are interested in a tour, please email recycle@accgov.com.