Looking to get a head start on your spring garden? The City of San Diego is making it easy for gardeners to get their hands on FREE, nutrient-rich compost, thanks to new Compost Giveaway Events presented by the Environmental Services Department (ESD) in partnership with I Love A Clean San Diego. Compost Giveaway Events are taking place in various communities for the next several months. Dates and more information can be found at SDRecyclingWorks.com.  

Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting out, these events are perfect for anyone looking to give their plants a boost and help their garden thrive. Compost helps reduce erosion, saves water and provides energy to plants. It also keeps carbon out of the atmosphere, reduces effects of climate change and increases resilience to impacts from wildfire, heat, drought and flooding. 

San Diego’s abundance of compost is due in large part to the success of the City’s new Organic Waste Recycling Program. The program was rolled out in 2023, with new green bins delivered to 270,000 customers receiving services from ESD. These households are now empowered to recycle their food scraps and yard trimmings, with the City providing weekly collection services.  

At the Miramar Greenery, compost is made from those yard trimmings and food scraps through a natural process in which the materials are ground, placed in windrows (long, narrow rows), turned and watered and covered for several weeks. During this time, microorganisms digest the carbon and nitrogen-rich mixture, producing nutrient-rich material that is ready to be added back into the earth by farms and gardens throughout San Diego.  

Compost is most beneficial when used consistently over time, at least twice a year -- such as in spring and fall -- for raised beds and pots, top dress, turf and seedings and propagation.  

In addition to picking up compost at the new Compost Giveaway Events, residents can also self-load free compost (up to two cubic yards, which is the equivalent of two bathtubs) at the Miramar Greenery Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.