Organics - Backyard Composting

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Food Waste Composting - Learn about:

• worm bins,
• food digesters,
• composting food scraps,
• soil incorporation, and
• what food you can and cannot compost.

Yard Waste Composting - Learn about:

• cold composting, 
• hot composting, and
• what yard waste you can and cannot compost. 

Composting Program Information:

• Looking for Leaves for your Compost?  The City of Olympia has FREE leaves available for composting.  There is a 5-yard minimum and they are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.  Please email publicworks@ci.olympia.wa.us or call 360.753.8588 to learn more.

• Compost at the Curb:  Have too much compost for your yard? Add composting at the curb.

• WATER WISE Gardening:  Be a WATER WISE gardener as well as composting.

Composting Reading Resources:

• Let it Rot, by Stu Campbell
• The Mulch Book, by Stu Campbell
• The Rodale Book of Composting, edited by Deborah Martin and Grace Gershuny
• Worms Eat My Garbage, by Mary Appelhoff

Composting Internet Resources:

• www.co.thurston.wa.us/wwm
• gardening.wsu.edu
• www.wsra.net
• www.ciwmb.ca.gov/Organics/HomeCompost
• www.compostingcouncil.org

Visit a Composting Demonstration Garden:

• Dirt Works, located on Alta Drive off Capital Mall Drive, behind Yauger Park and the Apple Park Apartments.
• Closed Loop Park, located off Hogum Bay Road at the Thurston County Waste & Recovery Center (Take Exit 111 north, off of I-5). 
• The Farmer's Market, located downtown at the north end of Capitol Way.

Contacting Public Works:

• Mailing Address:  PO Box 1967, Olympia, WA 98507
• Physical Address: 924 7th Ave. SE, Suite A (directions)
• Hours:  M - F from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (except for City-recognized holidays)
• 360.753.8588, TTY 360.753.8270
• publicworks@ci.olympia.wa.us
• Visit Public Works home page