Photo: S. Smith
Not an exciting or colorful photo but compost can transform your garden.
Do you hear the persistent commercials exhorting us to invest in all kinds of wacky things? Want to know an investment that reaps enriching rewards in good times and bad: compost. It's a stimulus package of organic material for the garden. Plus you don't have to buy mulch, fertilizer and soil conditioners.
It's great to make your own if you have the time and space. But if you need a compost fix now for your spring planting or need to spread it over a large area, here are some resources in Santa Clara County. With most of them you have to pick it up yourself but some will deliver bulk quantitiies. Don't forget to wear boots, bring a shovel and a tarp to cover your fragrant pile.
Maybe you can talk a friend or neighbor into sharing the load.
BFI Organics - Newby Island Compost Facility
1601 Dixon Landing Road
Milpitas Ca 95035
For compost sales call 408 945-2844
Hours: Monday - Friday 7:30 - 4:00 p.m. Minimum order is 2 yards
Small orders (1 yard) Saturday sales 8 a.m. -11 a.m.. Cost is $25 a yard.
Feedstock used: yard trimmings, pallets
Note: wear a hat to protect head from seagull droppings.
Guadalupe Landfill “Valley’s Pride” Compost
999 Guadalupe Mines Road
San Jose CA 95120
408 268-1694
Hours: Monday – Friday 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Feedstock used: yard trimmings, stable manures, redwood grindings
Delivery available. Self – haul price $20/yard, bags available for small quantities.
Zanker Road Resource Management
705 Los Esteros Road
San Jose CA 95134
408 313-0444
Hours: M-F 7 a.m. - 5 p.m. Sat/Sun 8 - 3
Self – haul price $14 cubic yard, order minimum 2 yards.
Feedstock: yard trimmings
For more info: www.zankerrecycling.com
Contact sales rep Alex Sharpe: alex@zankerrecycling.com
Z-Best Products
Self - $14 cubic yard, order minimum 8 yards.
Delivery for 20 yards or more
980 Highway 25
Gilroy CA 95020
Hours: M-F 7 a.m. - 5 p.m. - Sat 7 a.m. - noon
408 846-1577
Monterey Mushroom
3 yards FREE to Morgan Hill residents (fills back of a pick-up)
Larger quantities $8.50 per ton
642 Hale Avenue
Morgan Hill CA
408 779-4191
Bring driver's license to verify residency
Royal Oaks Mushrooms
Self serve only - $10 cubic yard
15480 Watsonville Road
Morgan Hill
408 779-2362
Wheeler Farms
PO Box 19561
Stanford CA 94309
650 424-1896
Feedstock: Horse Manure
Delivery only, 3 yard minimum. $40/yard plus delivery.
www.wheelerfarms.net
SMART Station (Sunnyvale, Mountain View, Los Altos & Palo Alto residents only)
FREE to the residents of the above cities
301 Carl Road
Sunnyvale CA 94089.
For larger quantities (weekends recommended), call (408) 752-8530 24 hours in advance.
Self service is available 7 days a week 8 – 5 in front of SMART station near buy back center. Bring picture ID. One truckload a week maximum
Cupertino Residents
Unlimited FREE bulk compost Friday and Saturday mornings from 8:30- 11:00AM at Steven’s Creek Quarry, Steven’s Canyon Road across from the Steven’s Creek Reservoir dam. The site is open typically the last weekend in March through the 4th weekend in October. The site may be closed during that time due to rainy weather or muddy conditions.
Feedstock: yard trimmings
Bring driver’s license to verify residency
Palo Alto Residents
Residents may receive up to one FREE cubic yard of compost on scheduled Compost Giveaway Days. The dates in 2010 are Saturday-March 27, Sunday-April 4, Saturday-June 26, Saturday-September 25 and Sunday-October 3. Bring driver’s license to verify residency, shovel, containers to carry the compost home.Compost can be picked up at the Palo Alto Landfill located at the east end of Embarcadero Road.
Feedstock: yard trimmings.
The new Organics Yard at the Palo Alto Landfill sells Palo Alto Compost mixed with a variety of materials to create soil amendments specially developed for Palo Alto soils. The following materials can be purchased: Topsoil Blend, Soil Conditioner, Potting Mix, Palo Alto Compost, Sandy Loam, Deco Top Dressing Mulch and Wood Fines. The landfill is located at the east end of Embarcadero Road and is open from 8-5 seven days a week.
Source: Santa Clara County Recycling and Waste Commission and the individual facilities.
