Palo Alto’s Compost Giveaway Day will be held at the Palo Alto Landfill on Saturday, March 26. Residents are limited to one cubic yard; those interested should bring shovels, gloves, containers and proof of Palo Alto residency. – Jeffrey LuPalo Alto residents can stock up on compost for springtime gardening needs on March 26, when the City of Palo Alto will host a Compost Giveaway Day in an effort to advance environmental viability.

The giveaway event will run from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Palo Alto Landfill, located at 2380 Embarcadero Road.

Ron Arp, manager of environmental control programs for Palo Alto, explained that the city hopes to expand its philosophy of sustainability and environmental awareness by providing residents with free compost.

“Supplying residents with compost generated from residential yard waste supports the city’s sustainability philosophy of organic recycling,” Arp said. “The use of compost as a soil amendment is environmentally friendly and may also reduce the amount of synthetic fertilizers used by residents.”

Arp said that composting, an organic recycling process, begins with yard waste collection from Palo Alto residents. The collected yard waste undergoes a lengthy process at the Palo Alto Landfill before breaking down into compost.

“The majority of the yard waste accepted at the city’s composting facility originates from curbside collection within Palo Alto,” Arp said. “Yard waste is ground using a horizontal or tub grinder, then placed into rows. The rows are watered daily and aerated by mixing the material with a bulldozer or front end loader.”

Within 60 days, what began as residential yard waste becomes compost suitable for gardening. Arp added that, before being made available to the public, the compost is tested for dangerous microbes such as salmonella or coliform bacteria.

Residents are limited to one cubic yard of compost, the equivalent of six full trash cans. Those interested should bring proof of Palo Alto residency, shovels, gloves and containers to hold compost.