County To Give Residents Free Compost In Celebration Of Earth Day 2022

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FL — Earth Day came into existence in 1970, and on Friday, tree-huggers, garden clubs, teachers, and many others will join together to show the planet some extra love in a variety of ways.

Hillsborough County residents will be able to attend an Earth Day event Saturday that will provide locals with free county-created compost. Compost can enhance landscape plants, lawns, and trees while protecting them against plant diseases, a Hillsborough County news release said.

Bags and shovels will be provided for residents to fill with the compost, or residents may bring their own containers. The limit is one bag or up to a 5-gallon container of compost per vehicle, while supplies last. Commercial vehicles will not be permitted.

Through an innovative partnership between Hillsborough County Solid Waste and Hillsborough County Water Resources that started as a pilot program in 2015, Hillsborough County combines tons of mulched yard cuttings and biosolids (treated wastewater byproducts) to create the compost.

Traditionally, yard waste — grass clippings, leaves, tree and bush trimmings, and small stumps — has been used for landscaping or for cover at the landfill. The treated wastewater byproducts, known as biosolids, have been trucked to the landfill for disposal.

In addition, Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful will provide a free 1-gallon Florida native plant or tree for the first 200 vehicles.

Hillsborough County residents can pick up free County-created compost at a one-day event from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 23, at the Hillsborough Heights Solid Waste Facility, 6209 County Rd. 579, Seffner.

The event is open to Hillsborough County residents, including residents of Tampa, Temple Terrace, and Plant City.

Learn more about Hillsborough County composting.