Compost Giveaway Program

Compost will return this spring 2025: check back here

New compost program

Starting May 1, 2024, the City of Sacramento is giving free compost to residents.  The program is a way to give back to the community while meeting regulations required by Senate Bill 1383. This compost is a product of our curbside organics recycling program.

We do not currently have compost available. All compost available while supplies last.

Compost giveaway program open_in_full

Use compost in your garden or potted plants

How to get free compost (loose)

No orders are currently being taken for compost. Please check back here in the April 2025 for more information.

 

How to get free compost (bagged)

Bagged compost is no longer available. Please check back in Spring 2025 for updates on bagged compost availability.

 

Organics life cycle open_in_full

Recycled food scraps become compost

What is compost used for?

Compost is an excellent way to provide essential nutrients for vegetables, flowers, and fruit trees and can reduce or eliminate the need for chemical fertilizers. Using compost can also reduce water use and help improve soil health.

See below for how to use it in your garden, lawn, or potted plants.

How do I use compost?

  • Use it as a soil amendment: Mix compost into your garden soil to improve its structure, fertility, and water-holding capacity. For best results, add a layer of compost to your garden beds in the fall or early spring, and mix it in with a garden fork or tiller.
  • Use it as a top dressing: Spread a thin layer of compost over your lawn, garden beds, or potted plants to provide a slow-release source of nutrients. Be sure to avoid smothering the plants’ stems or crowns.
  • Make compost tea: Steep a handful of compost in a bucket of water for a few days, stirring occasionally, to create a nutrient-rich liquid fertilizer. Dilute the compost tea with water and use it to water your plants. Use it as a seed starting mix:
  • Mix compost with vermiculite or perlite to create a nutrient-rich seed starting mix that promotes healthy seedling growth.
From curbside to compost open_in_full

The cycle from curbside to compost

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