Composting
What Is Composting?
Composting is nature's way of recycling organic material such as leaves, grass clippings, twigs, fruit and vegetable trimmings into a dark, crumbly, sweet smelling soil conditioner.
What is Worm Composting?
Worm composting, or vermicomposting, uses red wiggler worms to break down kitchen scraps into a super rich fertilizer.
What is Grasscycling?
Grass clippings make up a surprisingly large portion of California's waste during the growing season. To keep these out of the waste stream, try Grasscycling; it's easy! Grasscycling is the natural recycling of grass by leaving clippings on the lawn when mowing. They decompose quickly and release valuable nutrients back into the soil. Call the Master Composter "Rotline" at 408-918-4640 for more information.
More information on Grass-Cycling from the California Integrated Waste Management Board
Why Should I Compost?
With organic material making up approximately half of San Jose's municipal waste, at-home composting reduces the cost of yard trimming collection and processing, keeps kitchen wastes out of the landfill, and turns organic material into valuable product for gardens and houseplants. Compost is great for gardens and landscaping and you save money by not having to buy soil conditioners, mulch, and fertilizer.
Composting:
- Saves you money by lowering garbage bills and replacing store-bought soil conditioners.
- Helps garden and house plants by improving the fertility and health of your soil.
- Saves water by helping the soil hold moisture and reducing water runoff.
- Benefits the environment by recycling valuable organic resources reducing transport and processing of materials and reducing waste to our landfills.
More information on Home Composting from the California Integrated Waste Management Board
 What Can I Compost?
Yard wastes, such as fallen leaves, grass clippings, weeds, the remains of garden plants, and kitchen scraps make excellent compost. However, care must be taken when composting kitchen scraps. Meat, bones, and fatty foods (such as cheese, salad dressing, and leftover cooking oil) don't belong in the bin and must be put in the garbage. Find out more about composting "do's and dont's" on the Santa Clara County Solid Waste Commission website.
How Can I Use Compost?
Compost can be used to enrich garden soil, improve the soil around trees, shrubs and houseplants and when screened, as part of a seed-starting mix or lawn top dressing.
How Do I Get Started?
Composting can be practiced in any home, apartment, or townhouse. While you need some space to backyard compost, anyone can compost with a worm bin. For more detailed information visit The Master Composter website.
For composting to take place, you will need four basic ingredients: nitrogen (such as lawn clippings), carbon (like fallen leaves), water and air.
For worm composting, you just need a comfortable place for worms, the worms themselves, and kitchen scraps.
Find out how to purchase a bin
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Compost bins can be purchased at subsidized prices through San José Composts! or can be self constructed. For information on how to build a bin, how to sign up for a free compost class, and other general composting questions, contact the Santa Clara County Home Composting Program Master Composters at 408-918-4640.
Bargain Bins! The San José Composts! program provides San José residents with composting bins at bargain prices. Subsidies are provided through the Recycle Plus program and therefore, are available only to residents with San José ID or a recycle plus bill and photo ID. Checks or cash are accepted at the bin sales. Non-San José residents can call their City offices for local composting programs. |
You can get started with home composting, Dirt Cheap! Click here
Compost bins are recommended for backyard composters as they speed up decomposition and prohibit vermin and pests. The following bins are provided by the City of San José for San José residents and City of San José employees.
 | Smith and Hawken Biostack Compost Bin
This bin can be used to compost yard trimmings and kitchen wastes. At 1 cubic yard it's the right size to help organics break down into a rich soil amendment for improving soil quality and adding nutrients. The biostack has 3 tiers designed for quick turning - making it easy to have finished compost in 12-16 weeks. This bin retails for $100. San José residents can purchase the biostack for only $50. |
 | Home Composter
This bin is similar in size to the Biostack, but it is better for "static" or slow composting. This method features less turning and provides finished compost in 4-8 months. The Home Composter retails for $85 and is available to San José residents for $30. |
 | Wriggly Wranch
The Wriggly Wranch uses red wiggler worms to break down kitchen scraps into the world's best fertilizer! The bin is the "Cadillac" of worm bins with a patented design for simple harvesting and a tap to drain liquid fertilizer from the unit. This bin retails for $120. San José residents can buy it for only $50.
Download a Wriggly Wranch Basics Manual in PDF format (48 KB).
Download Adobe's Free Acrobat Reader software from Adobe Systems' web site. |
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Workshops
Free Composting workshops are sponsored by the Santa Clara County Home Composting Education Program, providing composting basics in monthly two-hour workshops.
Bin Sales
During and after the composting workshops, the City of San José will provide subsidized compost bins to San José residents and City of San José employees.
Check out the available bins you can choose from.
2008 Workshop & Bin Sale Schedule
The sites below use the following schedule:
Composting Workshop: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Bin Sale: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Checks or cash are accepted at the bin sales.
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Willows Senior Center
2175 Lincoln Avenue (at Curtner)
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February 23
May 10
July 12
November 8
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| Almaden Community Center
6445 Camden Ave. off Almaden Expwy
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April 12
August 9
October 4 |
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Emma Prusch Farm Park
647 South King Rd. at Story Rd.
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March 8
June 14
September 13
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Call 408-918-4640 or email compost@pln.sccgov.org to register for free workshops or to get more information about how to compost.
FREE Evening Classes
- Free classes for schools, clubs, and neighborhood associations.
- Training for Master Composter vounteers who want to "spread the worm" in the community.
- Demonstrations sites at Prusch Farm and Guadalupe Gardens.
Guadalupe River Park & Gardens
Garden Center, San Jose (between Taylor and Hedding St.)
Wednesdays, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.: July 9, October 1.
Space is limited, so call 408-298-7657 to register. There is no Compost Bin sale at these events, but you will receive a coupon to purchase a bin on the Saturday following each evening class. See bin sale schedule for times and locations.
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Visit these helpful sites for more Composting information.
The Master Composter website will enable you to find valuable information on everything you ever wanted to know about composting.
Santa Clara County Solid Waste Commission website tells you all about their Master Composter Training Program, and their free 2 hour composting workshops. While you're there, learn why we should compost, how to compost, and basic worm composting details.
The California Integrated Waste Management Board is responsible for managing California's solid waste stream—helping California divert 50 percent of its waste from landfills by the year 2000 and protecting public health and the environment. The Waste Board is one of six agencies under the umbrella of the California Environmental Protection Agency.
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Where to Buy Compost
Compost can be purchased from garden centers at most hardware and home improvement stores.
To buy bulk compost at competitive prices, please call BFI at (408) 945-2844, or Zanker RRM at (408) 263-2385.
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