Benton County gardeners and homeowners have a chance to score free, high-quality compost this weekend as Republic Services hosts a community giveaway event from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday at its Pacific Region Compost facility near Adair Village.
Each household can receive approximately one cubic yard of the organic soil amendment with Republic Services staff on hand to load materials directly into truck beds and trailers. The Pacific Region Compost facility is located at 29969 Camp Adair Road.
The company’s municipal administrator, Kenneth Larson, said the compost is produced locally using yard trimmings, garden debris and food scraps collected throughout the region.
Residents must bring proof of their Benton County address to participate in the giveaway. Organizers recommend arriving early with supplies distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.
The compost meets quality standards, earning certification from both the U.S. Composting Council’s Seal of Testing Assurance and the Organic Materials Review Institute. The dual certification makes the product suitable for organic gardening applications.
Larson said Republic Services maintains strict quality control measures at its facility and accepts only clean organic materials while excluding biosolids from wastewater treatment, animal manures and “compostable plastics.”
The composting process diverts organic waste from landfills and returns nutrients to local soils. By participating in the giveaway, residents complete what Republic Services calls “closing the loop” — transforming waste into a valuable resource.
Detailed information about the composting process and laboratory test results are available online at coffinbuttelandfill.com/prc for residents interested in learning more about the product’s composition and quality standards.