ABOVE: Rain barrels just like these will soon be available to Fairmont citizens at a discounted price as a part of Fairmont’s biennial program to combat water runoff. This year, compost bins will also be available for purchase to keep organic materials and waste out of the storm drains and lakes. Submitted photo.

FAIRMONT – Two years after the program last opened, Fairmont is shaking things up with its rain barrels program.

The program works via a collaboration between Fairmont and the Recycling Association of Minnesota (RAM). Fairmont Water Resources Coordinator Hannah Neusch said RAM uses recycled materials to make these barrels.

“We purchase them at a wholesale cost,” she said. “We have them available then for residents to purchase at that cost. It’s essentially purchasing them at a discount and passing that on to residents and business owners. The idea is that if you install a rain barrel, you are alleviating that small amount of stress you might have from that runoff that would normally go into our storm drains.”

These barrels have a flat side to go against a building wall, and the water from the gutters drop in. This water then can be reused or filtered, but without a barrel, it carries whatever’s in the lawn or street, including fertilizers, into the storm drains and lakes.

“If we have a big rain event, which our rain events are getting more and more intense, and we’re getting more rain more frequently in one event, all of that runs off. If it’s not captured at all, it’s going to run right through your lawn and carry all that fertilizer into the storm drain, which goes right to the lake. Those nutrients then will fuel algae blooms.”

It’s no longer just barrels either. This year, Neusch said they will also be making compost bins available for purchase.

“When I’m looking at a holistic lake management plan, thinking about, ‘What are the different check boxes here?'” She said. “One of those things is giving residents, business owners, the tools to manage their own yard waste, like leaves, twigs and trimmings and also giving them the education to be able to know what to do with it. I thought it would be a really good option, specifically for those of us who want to try and manage some of our own yard waste ourselves.”

While the city has a leaf pick-up program, Neusch said sometimes timing doesn’t work out perfectly for people to get everything out in time, so it is good to have another option for people. The compost bins have doors on the top and bottom. Compostable materials are placed in the tip, and when they break down into soil, they can be removed by opening the bottom door.

To help people with ordering, Neusch said the ordering process has moved online for this year’s program.

“Previously, we would have the order form here at the office,” she said. “They would have to call us, we would fill it out, they would come in with a check, it was kind of a problem. It’s going to be a lot simpler. People can go right to the website, and they can put in how many barrels they want and where they live, and then put in their payment information.”

Looking forward, Neusch said she would like to see continued interest and help promote understanding of these pieces of equipment and how they can keep the lakes clean.

“My first goal would be seeing the public interested enough in this where we start reserving more than the minimum,” she said. “I would also like to see some community education and classes around composting. Where you’re going to use it, and you need to know how to use it. I’d like to see that in conjunction with how that affects water quality. We’re not quite there yet, but I think we’re heading in that direction.”

Orders open on Feb. 28. Neusch said it is recommended people get their orders in before April 1 to ensure the order is received in time for shipment. Ordered items will be at the old public works building on April 24.

For more information or to inquire about this service, visit recycleminnesota.org/2025-rain-barrel-compost-bin-sale/