Want to get started composting in the city of brotherly love? From pick-up to drop-offs, here are solutions for everyone.

With Dirt Factory debuting in University City this week (UPDATE 2018: Dirt Factory is CLOSED), everyone’s talking about composting.

Composting is important because it diverts waste from the landfill (where your kitchen scraps would emit more methane when they break down) and provides essential nutrients to the soil. The good news is that you can compost in a few places in Philadelphia, whether you drop it off or have a composting service. Regardless of where you live, where can you turn your orange peels & eggshells into plant-satisfying goodness?

It’s easy to get started – you can divert most of your kitchen waste, along with leaves, dryer lint, pet hair and more.

Philadelphia does not have a citywide compost pickup or drop-off, so your best bet is to go with a local compost pick-up. When you pay for composting services, you’re supporting local business AND showing the city that there is a demand for composting (so many our city WILL have citywide pickups one day…)

Philadelphia Residential Compost Pick Up Services

Want to get compost picked up from your house? Use one of these residential services:

• Circle Compost offers residential pickup for $12 to $18/month (depending on biweekly or weekly pickups). They pick up via bike (where possible) and give back to community gardens.
• Bennett Compost also picks up compost from your house for $18/month.
• Pedal Co-op is apparently a steal at $10/month for weekly OR bi-weekly compost pickups

Where to Compost in Philadelphia – Drop Off Locations:

• Fairmount Park Organic Recycling Center accepts your leaves and composts them for free!  You can also get free compost here, too.
• Dirt Factory: You can drop off your compostable bagged leaves & wood chips to Dirt Factory on 4308 Market Street on Wednesdays from 5-6 PM.  University City residents can drop-off compostable material for a low monthly fee (Contact Pedal Co-Op at 507-581-4421).  UPDATE: Closed in April 2018.
• Philly Compost provides neighborhood-scale composting in Fishtown, at a central site in the neighborhood. UPDATE: Closed

Philadelphia Commercial Composting Companies

Do you want your business’s waste to be recycled? These companies are the choices in town:

• Philly Compost also offers commercial composting.
• Organic Diversion offers commercial solutions.

Businesses can contact these various groups for quotes.

DIY Composting in Philadelphia

Want to start composting on your own? Here are a few resources to get started.

• Crazy About Compost: Composting expert Tyler Weaver helps educate Philadelphians about best composting practices. He’s a speaker, and he also develops composting programs and offers business coaching.
• Worm Factory and similar companies have compact models perfect for urbanites.

How can you personally compost instead of stuffing food into their afterlife down your garbage disposal?

How to Compost has tips and guides for you.

Readers, how do you compost?

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Julie Hancher is Editor-in-Chief of Green Philly, sharing her expertise of all things sustainable in the city of brotherly love. She enjoys long walks in the park with local beer and greening her travels, cooking & cat, Sir Floofus Drake. View all posts by Julie Hancher