Cutting down the trash

Merced recycles. So do I.

For the past year, I've been putting my kitchen scraps into a compost pile in my backyard. I surrounded it with cinder blocks and covered it with plastic. The pile grew and grew, and I was surprised by how much I kept out of my trash can.

Unfortunately it became a home for all sorts of bugs that would wander into my house once in a while.

Two weeks ago, I stumbled on the above Web site, a division of the Merced County Association of Governments. Not only does it have "Can It", a green version of "Frogger," it has a link so county and city residents can buy composters at discount rates, ranging from $10 to $20, depending on the size.

At $10, I couldn't refuse to take care of my refuse. The bin is now in my backyard and breaking down my celery and avocado peels into rich compost that I can sprinkle onto my plants.