Soil quality: At the most basic level, adding compost or mulch to soil improves soil texture, making water and nutrients more readily available to plants. Soil contains a microscopic ecosystem, and compost bolsters those microorganisms in a way that favors a healthier soil biology. Healthy soil supports stronger plants, trees, and crops. It can even reduce the need for pest control measures.

Water retention: When a layer of compost is applied on top of the soil (used as mulch), it insulates the soil underneath and reduces evaporation. Adding a layer of mulch, especially during hot summer months, regulates soil temperature by keeping plant roots cool.  

Air quality: Compost plays a key role in the carbon cycle, which is the process by which nature reuses carbon atoms; from living beings, to the atmosphere, and back, again and again over time. Compost is made from decomposed organic material, so it keeps carbon in the soil and out of the atmosphere.

Erosion control: Compost is an effective tool for combatting erosion in vulnerable areas. Storm water runoff is more likely to absorb evenly where compost is applied, minimizing effects of runoff on trails and other open spaces.

Where does yard waste go to be processed? Food scraps?

Yard waste collected in Folsom is composted by Agromin, a company that operates several yard waste composting facilities throughout the region. Finished compost and mulch is tested for contaminants, pathogens, and other environmental hazards before being loaded up and delivered back to Folsom for use in the city's self-serve community compost piles.

City of Folsom food scraps and food-soiled paper are currently sent to be composted at Yolo County Central Landfill (YCCL), where Northern Recycling operates a new state of the art facility with an annual throughput capacity of 183,000 tons of organic waste. This will work in combination with the existing anaerobic facility that already operates at YCCL.

Why do food scraps go to Yolo County?

Permitting remains strict for facilities that compost food waste. Safe and effective composting is the top priority at these facilities. Efforts to scale up the region’s capacity to compost organic material are underway, but in the meantime, the operation at Yolo County Central Landfill is the most efficient choice for City of Folsom’s material.

More on Safety

Compost that can be sold or otherwise provided to customers must meet California standards for every pile – reaching a temperature of 131 degrees Fahrenheit or higher and maintaining that temperature for at least 3 days. These temperatures are high enough to significantly reduce pathogens, kill weed seeds, and facilitate an effective composting process.

Curious about how the compost created from recycled organic material is tested? See the information below, from CalRecycle's wesbsite, to learn more about the ways in which compost quality is measured. 

CalRecycle regulations (Title 14, CCR, Division 7, Subchapter 3.1) require that compost produced by commercial scale composting operations and facilities protect public health and safety.  This includes testing product quality, including metal concentrations, physical contamination levels, and pathogen levels. 

Compost purchasers require additional information from suppliers in order to ensure the product meets specific needs, such as for erosion control or specific crops.  The quality of compost and mulch products can be determined by testing for specific characteristics, including pH, soluble salts, nutrient content, organic matter, maturity, stability, and physical contaminants (i.e., inerts, including glass, metal, and plastic).  Appropriate ranges for specific characteristics depend on the type of application.

Additionally, the compost provided to residents at the self-serve compost piles is tested and certified by the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI). 

For More Information, visit: 

• Product Quality and Specifications: Compost and Mulch - CalRecycle Home Page

Municipal or industrial composting is designed to handle a large volume of organic materials, and there are several methods used to compost at the commercial scale. The processes are technologically advanced and involve constant monitoring of the piles. This allows these facilities to break down materials into nutrient dense compost that are not compostable in small backyard compost piles. This includes, meat, bones, dairy, processed food, etc.

Industrial composters generally use one of three methods:

Windrow composting: this process channels aerobic decomposition to break down organic materials. Organic material is placed in long rows that are turned mechanically with a pile turner to provide aeration and oxygen to facilitate the decomposition process. Piles are also watered down and monitored for moisture and temperature. This process requires large areas of land, equipment, and labor to continually turn and monitor piles

Aerated static pile composting: this process is like windrow composting in that it uses the aerobic decomposition process, but instead of turning piles to provide aeration, these piles are placed on top of air vents that push air through the piles. Perforated pipes at the bottom of the pile deliver air, which keeps the piles oxygenated without the need to manually turn them. These piles are also monitored closely for temperature and moisture.

In-vessel composting: this process is very different than windrow or aerated static pile composting in that it contains all the organic material inside a container or vessel. Inside this vessel, the temperature, moisture, and oxygens levels are controlled to facilitate the breakdown of organic material under anaerobic conditions (very little or no oxygen).

Residents who want to compost at home, or who already practice backyard composting are encouraged to do so. The City of Folsom’s Green bin program is complementary to backyard composting because items not suitable for a backyard compost bin or pile – such as meat, dairy, and processed foods – are all Green Bin Approved.

Creating healthy compost at home requires minimal equipment, a few key guidelines, and lots of patience:

First, you must separate compostable food scraps in your kitchen, making sure to avoid materials that don't belong in a backyard compost bin. This includes items such as meat and dairy. Healthy compost requires a mixture of “brown” carbon-based materials and “green” nitrogen-rich materials for microbes to thrive, so alternate adding these materials to your pile. Proper materials, moisture, and air flow will ensure the composting process can occur.

After an initial period of decomposition, the pile will need to cure. At this point, no new material is added, and the pile is turned or mixed about once a week until a rich, brown, soil-like material with no large chunks remains. The curing process can take anywhere from six months to a year. Once compost is cured it can be used to mulch landscaping, tilled into garden beds or planters, or mixed as a potting soil amendment.

These are just the basics, and there is much more to learn about composting. If you are interested in learning more, attend one of our free composting workshops or download our Regional Recycling Backyard Composting Guide.

The first step in supporting a sustainable organics recycling program is prevention. Preventing excess food waste can be accomplished with a variety of approaches. Be intentional with food purchases and plan for meals. Only buy what you need, and check what you already have at home to avoid buying duplicates.

Storing your food properly can increase its lifetime and reduce spoilage. Organize your refrigerator and pantry so that items that need to be eaten first are readily available. Double check which items should be stored on the counter, in the pantry, or in the refrigerator/freezer.

When shopping, you can reduce waste by purchasing environmentally preferred products. Look for the word “postconsumer” and/or the postconsumer logo. Postconsumer means the product is made from materials collected through recycling programs like ours. While watching for this logo helps, not every product made from recycled content is labeled as such.

You may be buying a recycled product without even knowing it! Many items are made with recycled materials, but don’t advertise it. For example, in California, the average aluminum container is made up of 55% recycled aluminum, and the average glass bottle is made of 30% recycled glass. The average steel can is made of 25% recycled steel.

• More information to come, check back soon! 

• City of Folsom Water Conservation 
• CalRecycle: California's Short-Lived Climate Pollutant Strategy
• CalRecycle: Benefits of compost and mulch
• US Environmental Protection Agency: Composting at Home
• Regional Recycling Group Backyard Composting Guide