Composting is nature’s way of recycling.  It turns fruit, vegetables and yard waste into a dark, crumbly mix that can improve structural and chemical properties of soil. Adding compost helps gardens and plants, saves water and preserves landfill space.

There are many options for composting in Salt Lake City. If you are a resident and you pay for trash service, the City provides a free compost cart that you can use for green waste, vegetable scraps and a few other assorted items. You can also buy manufactured bins at most garden stores, build your own, or take advantage of community drop off locations. 

Here’s what your brown compost cart looks like:

Contact

• 801 535-6999
• mySLC online, scroll down and click on Waste & Recycling
• For up-to-date info visit SLC Green on X (formerly Twitter) https://x.com/SLCgreen
• 2010 W 500 South, Salt Lake City, UT 84104
• Hours: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

You can put this material in your brown compost cart:

• Weeds
• Lawn clippings
• Leaves
• Tree branches
• Tea bags
• Coffee grounds
• Fruit and vegetable scraps
• Eggshells

Items not accepted in the brown cart include:

• Meat/Dairy
• Biodegradable/compostable packaging (which cannot be processed at this time)
• Paper plates
• Construction wood
• Sawdust
• Sod
• Dirt
• Rocks
• Concrete
• Animal waste
• Flower pots
• Plastic bags
• Recylables
• Paper
• Paper bags
• Napkins

The waste is processed at Salt Lake City’s compost facility and turned into compost, which is then available for purchase at the Salt Lake Valley Landfill, 6030 W. California Ave. (1300 South).

The compost is certified for quality by the US Composting Council. Compost is available for purchase year-round. 

For more information contact the landfill at 385-468-6370.