Local agencies and businesses are assisting gardeners with their resolutions to go green in the New Year.

Keep the Midland Beautiful sponsors Grinding of the Greens from December 26- January 10. This annual post- holiday program recycles indoor Christmas trees into free garden mulch. Christmas tree drop- off locations and mulch locations are available online at www.keep-themidlandsbeautiful. org.

The same agency is encouraging the recycling of yard and kitchen waste by selling The Earth Machine™ backyard compost bin. The petite bin is 33" in diameter and 33" high. Bin design includes aeration vents and easy access to the fin- ished product. The bin allows the gardener to pursue either active or passive composting.

Those interested can preview the compost bin at www.earthmachine. com or call 803- 733-1139 to purchase one.

Starbucks offers a complimentary bag of "Grounds for your Garden" to layer in the compost bin.

The East Piedmont Resource Conservation and Development Council and The Richland Conservation District are selling rain barrel systems. Collecting rain water via a barrel is important for numerous reasons.

The Green Machine home composter is being sold through Keep the Midlands Beautiful for $45. The rain barrel provides a reserve in times of drought and watering restrictions. Providing adequate water to gardens is costly for city water users. Rain barrels attach to gutter downspouts thereby reducing rapid runoff.

Rooftops shed an enormous quantity of water. A half inch of rain hitting a 1,000 square foot roof yields 300 gallons of water. To purchase a rain barrel contact Charlie Fisher at 803-576-2080.

The Sack the Plastic campaign encourages consumers to bring durable, reusable bags when shopping to reduce and eventually eliminate single- use plastic bags. Since plastic bags do not decompose in the environment, worldwide plastic litter contributes to unsightly appearances and to loss of wildlife, especially sea creatures.

Many local merchants participate in Sack the Plastic by offering plastic bag recycling bins onsite and by providing low- cost reusable bags. For more information on how to reduce the plastic in your home and garden, visit www.sacktheplastic.org and its related sites.

Greening of the gardener is easy with the support of local agencies and businesses.