The Iowa City Landfill and East Side Recycling Center are out of compost until further notice.
Compost (50 cents per 5 gallons) and wood chips (50 cents per 5 gallons) are available at East Side Recycling Center in small batch during spring, summer, and fall while supplies last. This service is not available in winter.
Both compost and wood chips are in high demand in the spring/summer seasons, but staff are checking containers frequently and refilling supplies as needed. Please bring your own container and shovel to load materials. While supplies last, larger quantities of compost and wood chips are available for purchase at the Iowa City Landfill and Recycling Center.
How to pay:
Please pay by using the ParkMobile program in one of three ways once at East Side Recycling Center (note: the following directions are also posted on site):
- Download the ParkMobile phone application
- Scan the QR code to pay on the website
- Text “Park” to 77223
Customers can pay cash for these products at ReStore's check-out counter during their open hours, Wed. to Sat. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
How to use compost:
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA):
"You can add compost to your flower and vegetable beds, window boxes, and container gardens; incorporate it into tree beds; mix it with potting soil for indoor plants; or spread it on top of the soil in your yard.
Compost can be used as a soil amendment or as a mulch. As a soil amendment, mix in two to four inches of compost to the top six to nine inches of your soil. As a mulch, loosen the top two to three inches of soil and add a three-inch layer of compost on the surface, a few inches away from plant stems and tree trunks.
Adding finished compost to your soil:
- Improves the structure and health of your soil by adding organic matter.
- Helps the soil retain moisture and nutrients.
- Attracts beneficial organisms to the soil and reduces the need for pesticides and fertilizers.
- Reduces the potential for soil erosion.
- Sequesters carbon in the soil.
- Builds resiliency to the impacts of natural disasters."
For more information, visit the EPA web pages: