What happens to all the leaves, grass, branches and plant clippings collected from the SBWMA-area curbside plant materials or green carts? Here's the crash-course:
First your neighborhood plant materials collection truck delivers them to the Shoreway Recycling and Disposal Center in San Carlos. Then they are transported to Allied's Newby Island compost facility in Milpitas, where machines remove contaminants (like plastic bags) before grinding the plant materials into small pieces. This mulch-like material is put into big piles or windrows where temperature and moisture are closely monitored to ensure this material decomposes properly. These windrows are over 100-foot-long and 15 feet wide. The material in the windrows starts decomposing and eventually gets hot enough to kill harmful microbes or weed seeds. In about three to four months, the material breaks down into a nutrient-rich soil product, called "compost." The compost is then cured and screened for any large pieces that didn’t decompose. The compost is then sold as a valuable soil amendment and provided free of charge to our residents at periodic Compost Giveaway events.
Many of the SBWMA’s member agencies hold public Compost Giveaway Events during the year or operate sites that are open to residents year-round. Residents are invited to use the finished compost — made from local plant materials, to enrich their landscaping and houseplants. The Compost Giveaways are advertised in your community, in local papers and on our website.
Farms, nurseries and backyard gardeners use the finished compost to enrich and supplement the soil and grow healthier plants. The entire composting process creates a neat circle - a complete, natural loop that keeps valuable nutrients out of landfills and returns them to the earth.
