The City of Greensboro puts a whole lot of thought into where city residents can and should put their waste – and often city leaders have very specific ways for them to do so.  Now, the same people who took away curbside loose-leaf pickup – and brought you nice new yard waste bins and told you where you can buy giant paper bags – are offering you a deal on backyard compost bins and rain barrels.

It’s another way the city is trying to put the “green” in Greensboro.

“The City of Greensboro is making it easy for residents to lower their carbon footprint and conserve water by offering backyard compost bins and rain barrels for sale,” a statement from the city reads.  “The City is offering 65-gallon compost bins for $57 and 50-gallon Ivy rain barrels for $75 online while supplies last. Visit www.greensboro-nc.gov/BinBarrelSale to order online.”

Like all good salespeople, the city is letting customers know that the deals are for a limited time only: The deadline to place orders is Sunday, February 23.

After putting in their orders, those who buy the bins and barrels can pick them up from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, March 1.

The city will provide buyers with more details after they purchase the items.

“Whether you want to enrich your soil or take better care of the planet, there are plenty of reasons to start composting,” said City of Greensboro Waste Reduction Educator Masey DeMoss.

Water Resources Education Coordinator Laine Roberts spoke on the importance of rain barrels.

 “Every gallon of water conserved using rain barrels means spending less on your water bill for watering your lawns and gardens,” Roberts said.

According to the statement from the city announcing the sales: “Twenty-five percent of a typical household’s waste can be composted. Keeping these items out of your trashcan frees up space at the landfill and cuts down on carbon and methane emissions released in landfills. Composting also reduces the need for chemical fertilizers, helps soil retain moisture, and prevents soil erosion. Rain barrels help conserve water, reduce stormwater runoff, and minimize the need for chemical fertilizers.”