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Making Compost on Site

The Bay-Friendly Landscape Guidelines recommend setting up a method for producing compost on site from plant debris, food scraps and other compostable material.

Onsite Composting Best Practices

  • Size compost systems for the amount of feedstock (compostable material) that is generated on site.
  • Evaluate local, state, and federal regulations that may apply to an onsite composting system, depending on the size of the system and the type of feedstock.
  • The compost site should not exceed a 2% slope. Locate compost system to avoid leachate and debris runoff into storm drains or water bodies.
  • Provide access to water and allow space not only for compost bins and systems but also for easy access. Larger systems could benefit from allowing enough space for a front-end loader and providing a push wall. 

Resources for Onsite Composting

Civic Landscape Spotlight

Hayward's Route 238 - Landscape Success Story

The City of Hayward's Route 238 Capital Improvement Project is the biggest Bay-Friendly Rated Landscape to date. This project, which includes nearly seven acres of irrigated medians and other landscaping, was designed to save more than two million gallons of water annually. Download the two-page case study to learn more.

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