Foster City Announces Free Compost Give-away Dates

Contact: 'Andra Lorenz, (650) 286-3215, alorenz@fostercity.org

First Date: March 25, 2017

Back by popular demand and in appreciation of resident participation in the CartSMART yard trimmings and organics collection program, RethinkWaste, Recology, and the City of Foster City have teamed up to give away FREE compost.

Free compost events are scheduled to take place from 8 AM to 5 PM, or as long as supplies last, on the following dates in 2017:

March 25
April 22
September 9
October 7

Residents may take up to 1 cubic yard of compost at no charge (about six full garbage cans) from the west corner of Boat Park, which is located at the intersection of Foster City Boulevard and Bounty Drive. Bring shovels, gloves and containers.

In addition to the give-away events listed above, Foster City residents can get free compost year-round at Shoreway Environmental Center! Residents simply need to go to the scale house (accessible via Gate 1) and show proof of residency in the form of a utility bill or identification card to the attendant to be directed to the Transfer Station where they will then be provided with up to two 3-cubic feet empty paper bags for the compost. Residents need to fill and load the bags themselves. Shovels are provided.

Close the recycling loop by participating in the Compost Giveaway. The compost is made from yard trimmings, which are collected at the curb and composted at a local composting facility. Yard trimmings make up more than half of California's municipal waste. Compost is the valuable, nutrient-rich soil product that results from the controlled decomposition of organic material. Compost is ideally used as an amendment to enrich soil for lawns, gardens, ornamental plants, trees, and potted plants.

In addition to curbside yard trimming collection, free home composting workshops are offered by San Mateo County. Learn more here: www.recycleworks.org/compost/workshop.html.

The South Bayside Waste Management Authority/RethinkWaste is a regional agency, formed in 1982 to help local communities manage and reduce waste. To learn more about SBWMA/RethinkWaste, please visit www.RethinkWaste.org.