Compost Awareness Week Hub
International Compost Awareness Week (ICAW) is celebrated worldwide each year during the first full week of May to bring people together to share the benefits of composting organics and using compost to build healthier soil. Communities, schools, governments, and businesses team up to highlight the many types of composting, from small backyard efforts to large-scale commercial operations, during this week.
The San Diego County region is partnering to host several Compost Awareness Week activities in 2026 to inspire compost use and create a more sustainable future. Expand the list below to find details for an event near you!
Compost and/or Mulch Giveaways
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San Diego County Unincorporated Area
May 3 - 8 | Pine Valley County Park
- WHEN: Sunday, May 3 - Friday, May 8, 2026, from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (or while supplies last)
- WHERE: Pine Valley County Park - 28810 Old Hwy 80, Pine Valley, CA 91962
- WHAT: Compost and mulch available (FREE)
- HOW: This is a self-loading event, so bring your own tools, tarps, and containers.
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May 3 - 9 | Santa Ysabel Nature Center
- WHEN: Sunday, May 3 - Saturday, May 9, 2026, from 8:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. (or while supplies last)
- WHERE: Santa Ysabel Nature Center - 22135 Highway 79, Santa Ysabel, CA 92070
- WHAT: Compost and mulch available (FREE)
- HOW: This is a self-loading event, so bring your own tools, tarps, and containers.
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May 3 - 9 | Borrego Springs County Park
- WHEN: Sunday, May 3, 2026 - Saturday, May 9, 2026, from 8:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. (or while supplies last).
- WHERE: Borrego Springs County Park - 2620 Country Club Rd., Borrego Springs, CA 92004
- WHAT: Compost and mulch available (FREE)
- HOW: This is a self-loading event, so bring your own tools, tarps, and containers.
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May 3 - 9 | Live Oak County Park
- WHEN: Sunday, May 3, 2026 - Saturday, May 9, 2026, from 8:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. (or while supplies last)
- WHERE: Live Oak County Park - 2746 Reche Rd, Fallbrook, CA 92028
- WHAT: Compost available (FREE)
- HOW: This is a self-loading event, so be sure to bring your own tools, tarps, and containers.
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May 3 - 9 | Lindo Lake County Park
- WHEN: Sunday, May 3, 2026 - Saturday, May 9, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to Sunset (or while supplies last)
- WHERE: Lindo Lake County Park - 1660 Lindo Ln., Lakeside CA, 92040
- WHAT: Mulch available (FREE)
- HOW: This is a self-loading event, so be sure to bring your own tools, tarps, and containers.
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May 9 | Warner Springs Community Center
- WHEN: Saturday, May 9, 2026 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (or while supplies last)
- WHERE: Warner Springs Community Center - 30950 Highway 79, Warner Springs, CA 92086
- WHAT: Compost and mulch available (FREE)
- HOW: This is a self-loading event, so be sure to bring your own tools, tarps, and containers.
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City of Chula Vista
May 9 | Otay Sustainability Park
- WHEN: Saturday, May 9 from 8:00 am – 12:00 pm
- WHERE: Otay Sustainability Park - 1700 Maxwell Road, Chula Vista, 91911
- WHAT: Free compost available
- HOW: This is a self-serve and self-loading event so please bring your own buckets, shovels, containers, and tarps for truck beds.
- For questions or more information, call 619-691-5122
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City of La Mesa
Year-round | La Mesa Public Works Yard
- WHEN: Any day, Dawn to Dusk
- WHERE: La Mesa Public Works Yard - 8152 Commercial St., La Mesa, CA 91942 (near gas pumps)
- WHAT: Community Compost Pile Available! Free self-serve compost is available for City of La Mesa community members and is being delivered approximately every week.
- HOW: This is a self-serve, self-loading, and self-haul service, so please bring your own cans/bags, gloves, and shovel. If loading the bed of a truck, bring a tarp to cover the compost. Please do not block the gas pumps.
- For more information cith the City of La Mesa's website.
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City of Oceanside
Year-round | El Corazon Compost Facility
- WHEN: Available year round!
- Monday - Friday, from 7:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Saturdays from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm
- Closed on Sundays
- WHERE: El Corazon Compost Facility - 3210 Oceanside Blvd., Oceanside, CA 92056
- WHAT: Free compost and mulch for City of Oceanside residents
- HOW: This is a self-serve, self-loading, and self-haul service, so please bring your own shovels, containers, and tarps for truck beds.
- WHEN: Available year round!
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City of San Diego
May 9 | Snapdragon Stadium (SE parking area)
To increase opportunities for residents to pick up compost, I Love A Clean San Diego, and the City of San Diego are partnering to host Compost and Mulch Giveaways on select weekends. Get your hands on some nutrient-rich compost for your garden at no cost. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting out, this event is perfect for anyone looking to give their plants a boost. Swing by and grab some compost to help your garden thrive!
- WHEN: Saturday, May 9, 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
- WHERE: Snapdragon Stadium (SE parking area) - 12101 Stadium Way, San Diego, CA 92108
- WHAT: Free compost and mulch for City of San Diego residents
- HOW: This is a self-serve, self-loading, and self-haul service, so please bring your own shovel, gloves, containers, and tarps/bungees for truck beds. All truck beds must be covered.
- For more information, please visit the City of San Diego Compost Giveaway Event Page.
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City of Solana Beach
Year-round | Solana Beach Public Works Yard
Pick up free compost at Solana Beach's Community Compost Hub! Provided by EDCO, the compost at this hub started off at home in your green bin. The City of Solana Beach's local waste hauler, EDCO, collects organic waste and transforms it into a nutrient rich compost for your garden through their anaerobic digester. Adding compost to your plants and garden enhances soil fertility, increases water retention, and reduces erosion.
- WHEN: Available year-round! Monday - Thursday, 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
- WHERE: Solana Beach Public Works Yard - 1764 Highland Drive, Solana Beach, CA 92075
- WHAT: Free compost for City of Solana Beach residents
- HOW: Please bring your own container. Small scoops are available on site.
- For additional details, visit the City of Solana Beach event webpage.
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Republic Services Customers
May 9 | Otay Sustainability Park
- WHEN: Saturday, May 9, 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
- WHERE: Otay Sustainability Park - 1700 Maxwell Rd, Chula Vista, CA 91911
- WHAT: Free compost for Republic Services customers
- HOW: This is a self-serve and self-loading event so please bring your own shovel, gloves, containers, and tarps/bungees for truck beds. *A Republic bill/invoice is required to participate.
Composting Workshops
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San Diego County Unincorporated Area
May 9 | Fallbrook | How to Save Money and Compost Manure in Unincorporated San Diego County
- WHEN: Saturday, May 9, 10am - 11:30am
- WHERE: Fallbrook Riders Inc., 1627 South Stage Coach Lane, Fallbrook
- WHAT: Manure composting made easy!
Join us to learn how you can reduce your waste-hauling expenses by composting your own organic wastes and manure, thanks to the updated County zoning ordinance. Plus, tour a working composting system in action.
Perfect for farmers, ranchers, and livestock owners looking to learn the details of the County’s updated zoning and permitting requirements
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May 9 | Rancho San Diego | All About Composting with Worms
- WHEN: Saturday, May 9, 10am - 12pm
- WHERE: Rancho San Diego Library, 11555 Via Rancho San Diego, El Cajon
- WHAT: Worm composting made easy!
Join us and learn how to start and maintain a worm bin at home. Discover how red wiggler worms can help you compost kitchen scraps, even in small spaces, while creating nutrient-rich castings for your plants.
Perfect for beginners looking to reduce waste and build healthier soil.
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May 16 | Descanso | Backyard Composting and Bokashi Basics
- WHEN: Saturday, May 16, 10am - 12pm
- WHERE: Descanso Library, 9545 River Dr, Descanso
- WHAT: Composting made easy!
Join us for our FREE Backyard Composting & Bokashi Basics Workshop and learn how to turn your food scraps into nutrient-rich compost for your garden 🌱
We’ll cover how backyard composting and bokashi, a method of fermenting organic matter, can break down food scraps and further enrich your soil. Perfect for beginners looking to reduce waste at home.
Have a recycling question? Email Recycle@sdcounty.ca.gov or call:
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