Self-Serve Compost

Our Self-Serve Compost Program has ended for the season.
We will start again in spring 2025 (dates TBD)!

Spring 2025: Free Compost Available to Sacramento County Residents at Two Locations

Starting sometime in spring through early fall 2025, pending demand and severe storms, self-serve compost will be available for free to Sacramento County residents for their home landscaping and their home gardening projects. This program is for residents only and is not for commercial use or commercial landscapers, etc. The compost is made of Organics - food scraps, food-soiled paper, and yard trimmings - from Sacramento County Waste Management and Recycling residential curbside customers.

The County orders compost as needed Monday through Friday, only. Compost restocking is based on vendor availability.
- Residents will need to bring a shovel/containers.
- Manual loading only. No mechanical loading allowed.
- No staff is available to assist in loading.
Compost will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Self-Serve Compost Locations and Hours: CLOSED until spring 2025 (dates to be determined)

COMPOST CLOSED: 3800 Branch Center Rd, Sacramento, CA 95827 (Map View)

Site is open 24/7

COMPOST CLOSED: Gibson Ranch Regional Park: 8556 Gibson Ranch Park Rd, Elverta, CA 95626

The site is near the entry kiosk and is open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday only sunrise to sunset (no deliveries on Thursdays)

Based on demand and severe storms, the County will make compost available sometime in spring through early fall 2025 - dates to be determined. The compost will be restocked based on availability as necessary.

About the Self-Serve Compost Program

The SacGreenTeam is excited to see the response from our residential curbside customers about the availability of self-serve compost. If there is enough demand, the goal is to expand the program to more locations in the unincorporated areas of Sacramento County.

The availability of this compost is through participation with Organics collection as part of Senate Bill 1383, the California legislation that requires organic material to be diverted from landfill disposal.

The organics material has gone to permitted, industrial composting facilities to be processed into compost. Each vendor uses a slightly different process to create beneficial compost for consumer use. All compost must meet the California standard: each pile must reach and maintain a temperature of at least 131 degrees Fahrenheit for three days. The US Composting Council requires compost to be tested by an independent certified laboratory before providing the compost to consumers in accordance with TMECC (Test Methods for the Examination of Composting and Compost) per US Composting Council requirements.

What is Compost?

Compost is nature’s way of recycling our “Organics” – food scraps, food-soiled paper, and yard trimmings – that transforms a previous waste stream into a beneficial, nutrient rich soil amendment. This simple act of keeping Organics out of our landfills helps protect our environment, reduces garbage, puts carbon back into the soil where it builds healthy soil, and addresses a changing climate.

Gardeners know the tremendous value of compost as a soil amendment to improve water retention, plant growth and erosion control. Adding compost to potted plants, gardens and lawns helps foster a healthy landscape and reduces the need for chemical fertilizers and pesticides.

Benefits of Using Compost

Fill Nutritional Gaps with Compost - Soil’s Natural Multivitamin

Compost is recycled organic material that fills nutritional gaps in your landscape with natural ingredients and puts carbon back into the soil.

Use compost in your landscape anywhere you want to:

Create water-holding soil structure
Promote soil fertility
Aerate plant root systems for healthy development
Aid in erosion control

How to Compost

Compost applied to soil promotes healthy plant growth that removes emissions from the air.

Compost is vital for soil to retain water, prevent erosion and store carbon in the soil where it is a benefit.

Where to Use Compost:

Add compost to the soil of potted plants
Mix compost to the soil in planter beds and pots
Make compost tea for a boost of nutrients
Repeatedly top dress your garden over the seasons
For new plants add 50/50 compost to native soil
Spread half inch of compost on the lawn for growth and to retain moisture

You can also make your own Backyard Compost – Learn how!

Compost Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a limit to how much free compost I can get?

No. There is no limit to how much compost an individual resident can manually load. Compost is available seasonally and provided on a first come, first serve basis for residential use only.

Is it possible to get compost loaded by staff into my car/trailer?

No. There are no staff on site to assist with loading.

Can I bring my own tractor to load a trailer, car, etc.?

No. There is no mechanical loading allowed, only manual. Residents must bring their own shovel and containers to load their compost.

I'm not a Sacramento County resident. Can I still pick up free compost?

The County-provided compost is only available to Sacramento County residents. Check your local jurisdiction for information and availability.

How do I use compost to ensure the compost doesn't stunt the growth of my garden?

Compost is meant to amend the soil. Too much compost can shock plants. It is recommended that you test the compost on a small section of your garden/area to ensure satisfaction prior to a full application. For more information, visit UC Master Gardeners Sacramento's “Using Compost" section.

Are there any weed seeds in the compost?

Per California composting standards and required US Composting Council (USCC) testing, weeds, weed seeds and pathogens are killed when the compost is kept at 131 degrees in accordance with the corresponding composting process. For more information on testing thresholds, go to CalRecycle's Product Quality and Specifications page for Compost/Mulch.

Are there any pathogens found in the finished compost?

The collected organics material goes to permitted commercial composting facilities to be processed into compost. Each vendor uses a slightly different process (enclosed vessel, windrow, aerated static pile) to create compost for consumer use. However, per CA title 14 requirements, compost is kept at 131 - 151 degrees for 3 to 15 days to kill pathogens in accordance with the corresponding composting process for pathogen reduction.

The US Composting Council (USCC) also requires compost to be tested by an independent certified laboratory before providing the compost to consumers in accordance with TMECC (Test Methods for the Examination of Composting and Compost). The testing data collection includes thresholds for moisture and organic matter content nutrients, pH, soluble salt s, pathogens (fecal coliform/Salmonella), trace heavy metals, and man-made inerts (glass, plastic, etc.). There are no bio-solids or other materials from sewer treatment.

It is recommended that you test any compost on a small section of your garden/area to ensure satisfaction prior to a full application.

If you have questions about per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and other forever chemicals in compost, please visit the US Composting Council's (USCC) PFAS webpage.

If you have questions about herbicides in compost, please visit US Compost Council's (USCC) Herbicide Frequently Asked Questions page.

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