Free Compost for Elk Grove Residents

Elk Grove’s Compost Corner is a free, seasonal compost giveaway program for Elk Grove residents. The City partners with Republic Services to make nutrient-rich compost available to the community. This program closes the loop on food and yard waste collected right here in Elk Grove.

The Compost Corner is open to Elk Grove residents at no cost and is available on a first-come, first-served basis. This is a self-serve program, and residents are encouraged to bring their own containers and tools, such as buckets, bins, or shovels, to collect compost during their visit. Compost is not available for commercial/business use.

The Compost Corner is located at Cosumnes Community Services District’s Elk Grove Regional Park, in the Point Parking Lot at the corner of Elk Grove Florin Road and East Stockton Boulevard. Compost is available during regular park hours.

The Compost Corner will be open during the following seasonal windows*:

  • 02/27/2026 - 03/31/2026
  • 04/06/2026 - 04/24/2026
  • 05/08/2026 - 05/12/2026
  • 05/18/2026 - 06/23/2026
  • 10/05/2026 - 12/11/2026

*All dates are subject to change. Compost is first-come, first serve and restocked weekly.

How It Works

  1. Residents sort food scraps, food-soiled paper, and yard waste into their green organics cart.
  2. Those materials are collected and processed into nutrient-rich compost.
  3. Finished compost is delivered to Compost Corner and made available for residents to take home and use in their gardens and landscaping.

Organics Recycling Life Cycle

compost lifecycle

  • Mixed Food and Yard Waste goes in the Green organics cart
  • Organic Material is Transported to Elder Creek Transfer Station via Republic Services
  • Initial Processing and Consolidation Of Residential Organics Onto Long Haul Trucks
  • Food and Remaining Yard Waste is Transported to Compost Facility
  • Organic Material Is Broken Down Into Nutrient-Rich Compost
  • Compost is Used for Farming and Other Purposes 

How to Use Compost at Home

Compost can be used to:

  • Enrich garden beds and vegetable gardens
  • Improve soil for trees, shrubs, and landscaping
  • Top-dress lawns
  • Mix into planter boxes and raised beds
  • Helps soil retain moisture
  • Can be used as mulch to protect plant roots from extreme temperatures

Questions?

Email the Recycling and Waste division