The Riverside County Department of Waste Resources has offered Backyard Composting classes and workshops for 30 years to provide residents with the basic knowledge on how to compost organic waste from home, safely and efficiently.

In addition to these basic composting classes, the department will be offering a free Master Composter Certificate Training program with a more advanced look at home composting and a variety of methods that can be used, more study of the composting process, and learning more about the waste stream in Riverside County.

Two methods of training are available: virtual online or in-person. Virtual online course begins Thursday, Jan. 4 and will allow participants up to three months to study and complete the course from home through online study materials and quizzes to earn the Master Composter Training Certificate.

The in-person training classes, for those who want a hands-on group experience, will be from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays in Palm Desert, Moreno Valley and Menifee in 2024.

Books and study materials will be provided by the department.

An instructor will guide students through the course and students will build a compost pile and build their own vermicompost bin.

Limited seats are available for the in-person training course.

Registration is required for either training course and more details are at https://rcwaste.org/free-classes#2392643287-388834543.

The Department of Waste Resources offers a variety of FREE environmental education classes related to waste reduction and sustainability. Class instructors provide attendees with professional learning and resources for instructional materials.

For more information about the Master Composter Training course, please contact Riverside County Department of Waste Resources (951) 486-3200 or by email to: waste-volunteer@rivco.org.