Richmond Compost Initiative
About Richmond Compost Initiative
The City of Richmond Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities (PCRF) has been selected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service to receive a $90,000 grant to launch a community composting pilot program. The initiative seeks to divert food waste from the landfill by providing options for composting at convenient drop-off locations and cycle that organic waste into high-quality compost.
July 2023 Update
The compost is going back into our gardens! After acquiring an industrial scale sifter, we are able to screen out large sized particles from our finished compost mix, leaving a fine clean mix that is as good as any compost you would find in a garden center. After a year of collecting about 525 gallons of food scraps a week, we've made a whopping 132 yards of compost (that's equivalent to 2,376 bags you would buy at the store), with a lot more on the way. If you're not already impressed, you'll be glad to know we've already started using our compost in the greenhouse for potting up seedlings with awesome results and very minimal weed seed contamination. We’re excited to be delivering loads back to the gardens and look forward to using the compost this fall in city planting projects as well as for community giveaways.
Thank you SO much to everyone who participates in our program, we’ve noticed a gradual increase in the fullness of our compost cans each week which makes us hopeful that residents are sticking with the program, and new folks are finding out about it. We are forever grateful for your organic contributions!
What is composting?
Composting is a process where food scraps, yard waste, and other organic matter is turned into a nutrient-rich stable soil material.
Why is it important?
Almost a quarter of all waste going to landfills is food and organic matter. Composting is a way to cut down on waste entering landfills while also creating a product that can be used to grow plants and green spaces. Composting also reduces harmful gas emissions by retaining carbon instead of releasing it into the atmosphere.
How Can I Participate?
Almost all food waste can be composted. Many paper products and plant-based materials can be as well. However, with the size of the Richmond Compost Initiative, there are some items we cannot accept. This list includes a breakdown of these items.
Set up at home collection
The easiest way to collect food scraps is to set up a small container on your countertop or under your kitchen sink. Buckets, coffee canisters, or any other container with a lid can be repurposed for food scrap collection. You can choose if you would like to line the container with a biodegradable bag or simply rinse it out between trips to your nearest compost drop-off.
Find a Drop-Off Location near you!
Drop-off locations are conveniently available across the City of Richmond at sites such as participating community gardens, public libraries, and recycling centers. See the map below for all participating locations.
FAQs
Click the button below to view FAQs regarding composting.