Binghamton – The Broome County Division of Solid Waste Management is launching a home composting program to enable residents to care for the earth in their backyards and reduce the amount of garbage going into the landfill.

Through the program, residents can purchase the “Earth Machine,” a home composter, for only $36 plus tax.

“The county landfill receives an estimated 180,000 tons of waste per year,” said County Executive Barbara Fiala. “Homeowners who chose to compost reduce their waste 25 percent to 40 percent on average, aiding to reduce the burden placed on the landfill.”

Homeowners can use the device to compost fruit, vegetable scraps, crushed eggshells, tea bags, coffee grounds and filters from the kitchen. This fall, yard waste like mulched leaves, dried grass, garden plants, old potting soil and soft plant stems from the garden can be added. After three months, with a little maintenance and care, the compost contained in the is broken down into humus, which homeowners can use to enrich the soil in their gardens.