About this time last year I noticed an ad for the Master Composter Recycler Program (MCRP), offered by the City of Edmonton. I confess my interest was purely selfish. Compost, I knew, was great for gardens, but my home compost bins were sorry piles of semi-rotten vegetables, liberally laced with coffee grounds, and topped with fall leaves. Somehow the rich dark “black gold” that was supposed to magically appear – hadn’t. Here was my chance to find out how to compost – and for free! Learning about recycling was appealing too – though I was already a, some would say, fervent recycler and pretty sure I’d ace that part of the course. I checked the MCRP web site, and without thinking too much about it, submitted my application form.

After the first class I realized that the program is much more than learning how to compost, and not just a crash course in waste management. It is all about how we can each make Edmonton a greener and better city. The classes included terrific presentations by local experts and MCRP graduates. We learned a lot about garbage –how we can save energy and the environment (as well as money) by reducing the amount of garbage we produce. We learned about what makes a “livable” city. Some of the sessions were workshops (my favourite – the day we made worm bins and watched demonstrations of different composting system); others were field trips (the Edmonton Waste Management Centre is truly impressive). Most importantly, we learned about the many City of Edmonton resources for waste management and sustainable living, and how to help promote these resources in our own communities.

This year’s Master Composter Recycler Program runs on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, and all day Saturday, from April 10 through 28.

If you are interested in becoming a fellow Master Composter Recycler:

1. Check the MCRP web site at: www.edmonton.ca/mcrp or call (780) 496-5991 for more information and the online application form.

2. Apply before March 7, 2012.

3. Learn lots and enjoy the program!