The Spring Compost Classes 2026

Free

BECOME A CERTIFIED

Backyard Composter

Vermi-Composter

Master Composter

Spring series starts on April 25, 2026 and spring classes end on June 20, 2026

Then watch for the Autumn class series, 2026

Sponsor: Mat-Su Borough’s Solid Waste Division

When: Continual Trainings continuously since 2016

Where: Next door to Mat-Su Borough’s Central Landfill at Valley Community for Recycling Solutions (VCRS), 9465 E Chanlyut Circle,

Palmer AK 99645

Our Goal:

Organic matter in the landfill takes up valuable space and creates greenhouse gases.

The Organic matter in the landfill takes up valuable space and creates greenhouse gases.

The purpose of this Mat-Su Borough program is to keep this valuable material out of our landfill,

reduce our carbon emissions, and save you money by reducing waste disposal costs. Our goal

is to empower you to transform organic waste into beautiful and beneficial compost. We

provide you free training and a Compost Hotline.

Certified Backyard Composter

--2 Hour Training

You’ll learn how to:

Successfully compost yard wastes, manures, & food wastes

Remedy a pile that’s too hot, too slow, or too stinky

Produce a matured, high-quality product for gardens & landscapes

Certified Vermi-Composter

--2 Hour Training

You’ll learn how to:

Successfully start & manage a worm bin

Worm away your food waste

Avoid flies & stench

Know where to apply finished vermi-compost

Certified Master Composter

--1 Day Training

Prerequisite: complete the Backyard Composter and Vermi-Composter courses.

You’ll learn additional compost strategies, and how you can apply these to assist residents,

businesses, schools, dog mushers, food services, farmers, stable managers, and organizations

to develop scaled-up compost operations. Share your enthusiasm and help get

others started composting.

We’ll review basics and then discover how to:

• Blend and compost a wider variety of feedstocks for proper C:N ratios

• Manage and trouble-shoot piles for moisture, temperature, aeration, & odor

• Process larger volumes of compost with static & thermal pile methods.

Trainings & Dates Spring 2026

Choose among these repeated courses. Note that May 31 and June 20, both vermi- & backyard classes are offered on the

same day. We’ll offer more again in the autumn.

Backyard Composter: Sat May 16, 3pm-5pm. Thurs May 28, 2pm-4pm. Tues June 2 10am-Noon. Weds. June 17, 10am-Noon. Weds June 17, 3pm-5pm.

Vermi-Composter: Sat April 25, 10am-Noon. Tues May 26, 10am-Noon. Tues May 26, 1pm-3pm.

Master Composter: Saturday June 10. 10am-4:30pm

To Register:

Call or text 907 795-3722 Email compost@matsugov.us