Rain barrels, compost bins on sale in Erie County; order by May 25

A sale of rain barrels and compost bins is being held by the Erie County Department of Environment and Planning, the City of Buffalo and the Western New York Stormwater Coalition. Prices are 50 percent off retail.

The deadline to order is May 25. Quantities are limited.

You have to pick up your items on June 7. The pick-up sites are in Buffalo and Tonawanda. See more details here. 

This is the third year the organizations have held the sale. Some new items are being offered this year, including a compost aerator to mix your pile and a rodent screen to keep critters from digging under the Earth Machine compost bin.

Rain barrels can provide a handy source of water for your garden. By using harvested rainwater for watering lawns, gardens and potted plants as well as for washing off patio furniture and tools, rain barrels conserve water.

Rain barrels also reduce stormwater runoff. Runoff is water that doesn’t soak in to the ground during a rainfall. Runoff can transport many pollutants to our local waterways, so the use of rain barrels can help keep our water clean. 

Composting yard trimmings and food waste is a simple way to recycle nutrients and return them to the soil. The addition of compost enriches soil and will stimulate plant growth, thereby reducing the need for chemical fertilizers. Composting has the added benefit of reducing the amount of solid waste that might otherwise go to a landfill.