SPRINGFIELD – Lincoln Land Community College’s Green Center is hosting the 12th annual Central Illinois Composting Symposium.

It will be on Tuesday, Feb. 24 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Trutter Center on the Springfield campus, 5250 Shepherd Road.

Registrations are being accepted now.

Symposium registration is $30 before Feb. 3, $35 after Feb. 3. The symposium is free to students with a valid student ID.

Lunch is guaranteed only for those who register by Feb. 3. Build Your Own Bin (BYOB) workshop registration is $15 more.

Call 217-786-4993 or email [email protected] for more information. Go to www.llcc.edu/composting-symposium]www.llcc.edu/composting-symposium to register.

This year’s symposium theme, “Building Soil and Community,” coincides with the International Year of Soils 2015 declaration by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

The symposium is a forum for sharing composting information; stimulating the composting market; and bringing composters, educators, and businesses together. So that everyone can benefit from this organic soil amendment and materials management method.

Kay McKeen will provide the keynote presentation. She will discuss the keys to implementing a successful composting program.

McKeen is a well-known leader in environmental education and founder of SCARCE (School and Community Assistance for Recycling and Composting Education).

Other symposium presenters include educators and experts from University of Illinois Extension, genHkids, Prairie Fruits Farm & Creamery, Illinois Stewardship Alliance, and the Student Sustainable Farm at the University of Illinois.

This year’s symposium offers more sessions with three tracks: beginner, advanced and vermicomposting.

A Build Your Own Bin (BYOB) workshop is being offered in the vermicomposting track. It will teach participants more about vermicomposting and how to construct their own vermicomposting bin.

Businesses or organizations related to composting or gardening are invited to show at the symposium.

Exhibitor space is $55. That includes one registration to the symposium (registration only, BYOB not included).

Live worms and a variety of composting books will be available for purchase. Cash and checks only. No credit cards accepted.

The symposium is sponsored by the LLCC Green Center, Illinois Stewardship Alliance, University of Illinois Extension, City of Springfield’s Division of Waste and Recycling, Illinois Department of Agriculture, genHkids and Illinois Recycling Association.