City Offers Free Compost All April at Rose Bowl-Area Site

The City of Pasadena Department of Public Works is distributing free compost to residents throughout April at a self-serve site near the Rose Bowl, as part of the city’s Earth Month celebrations.

Compost will be available for pickup at 176 West Dr. — adjacent to the intersection of West Dr. and Seco St. — on four delivery dates: April 2, 9, 16, and 23. Each delivery consists of 24 tons of material, for a total of 96 tons available over the course of the month. The limit is 30 gallons per person, and supplies are available while they last.

Residents must bring their own containers; sturdy containers, a shovel, gloves, and eye protection are recommended.

The program is part of a broader suite of Earth Month events the City is hosting in April. The Pasadena City Council issued a proclamation officially recognizing April as Earth Month on March 30, 2026.

The compost is provided by Athens Services and consists of a blend of green waste, wood waste, and food scraps. It is OMRI Listed® and STA Certified by the U.S. Compost Council. Pasadena’s program is designed to close the loop on local organics: the compost distributed to residents is made from yard waste collected within the city and returned to the community to support healthier gardens and landscapes.

The giveaway supports Pasadena’s compliance with California Senate Bill 1383, which requires communities to reduce organic waste disposal — such as food waste — by 75% from 2014 levels by 2025. To meet that mandate, Pasadena launched its Curbside Organics Recycling program in 2022, requiring residential refuse customers to include bagged food waste in their yard waste containers.

Composting plays a direct role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. When organic materials are sent to landfills, they decompose without oxygen and release methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Composting prevents those emissions while producing a soil amendment that enriches soil, improves water retention, reduces erosion, and supports plant growth without chemical fertilizers.