The compost cycle shown below closes the loop on organic waste by turning items like yard trimmings and food scraps into compost, a rich soil amendment. Compost helps grow healthy landscapes and edible crops, and when the waste from these activities is composted, the cycle begins again! 

1. Sort and Collect Organics

• Stop Food Waste First: edible food is too essential to waste! Find tips that will help you prevent food waste and save money. 
• Backyard Bin Sorting: learn what to put in your backyard bin.
• Worm Composting Sorting: learn what to put in your worm bin.
• Green Bin Sorting: learn what can go in your green bin

2. Make Compost  

• Backyard Composting: learn how to make compost in a backyard bin.
• Composting with Worms: find all the information you need to set up a worm compost bin. 
• Build or Buy a Compost Bin: explore different types of compost bins and find one that works for you.
• Composting on Urban Farms: download an in-depth guide for support in becoming an expert composter.
• Using your Green Bin: get more information about your city's curbside composting program. 

3. Get Compost

• Compost Hubs: find locations that offer free compost. 
• Compost Vendors: find vendors who sell compost.
• Go from Lawn to Garden: our Lawn to Garden website has resources that will make your lawn conversion projects easier, including a directory of vendors who provide bulk compost, mulch and other sheet mulch materials. 

4. Use Compost

• Home Gardeners: find how-to tips for using compost in the garden.
• Landscape Professionals: contains best practices, tips for identifying quality compost, and resources geared towards landscape professionals.
• Carbon Farming: Learn how compost and other gardening practices reduce climate change.

5. Plant and Grow

• Year-Round Local Gardening Resources: find gardening resources and supplies, and learn how to meet other East Bay gardeners.
• Gardening Events Calendar: check out our listing of local gardening events.
• Gardening Tips: visit our Lawn to Garden website for tips on growing an edible landscape.

Compost Pile Time-Lapse

Watch this time-lapse footage of a compost pile breaking down over four months.