As a San Francisco resident, you can get high-quality, organic compost for free at giveaway events throughout the year. This compost is made from the materials you have put in your green bins while saving them from ending up in the landfill.
Here are two ways to get your free compost in San Francisco:
- Garden Resource Days are a monthly service of the SF Recreation and Park Department’s Urban Agriculture Program where you can pick up compost and mulch for free. You may also find seeds, plant starts, and composting worms there depending on availability. Learn more about SF Rec and Park Garden Resource Days.
- Learn more about Recology's Weekend Cleanup days are held in different supervisorial districts throughout the City. These events take place between 8am and 12pm. Make sure to bring your own 5-gallon bucket! Recology will also accept bulky items, recyclables, and yard trimming for disposal. For more details contact Recology customer service by email at [email protected] or by phone at (415) 330-1300.
Additional resources
- Free urban composting classes: Garden for the Environment offers free Urban Composting classes on backyard and worm composting. Visit the Garden for the Environment website for more resources, details on their workshops, and volunteer opportunities.
- Free kitchen compost pails: Request a free kitchen pail from Recology to store food scraps from your kitchen. Visit the SFE webpage for details.
Resources for Bay Area and Alameda County residents
- StopWaste provides composting information for residents outside of San Francisco. Visit their website for information to get free compost from nearby compost hubs and receive free on-site composting assistance.
- Purchase compost or mulch in bulk from local Bay Area businesses. View a directory of these businesses on the Lawn to Garden website.
Arbor Day event 2024
Compost giveaway event at SOTA/McAteer Campus and Garden Resource Day at Mclaren Park
