Community Compost Network

Developing a network of community-led composting across the City of Philadelphia.

Program Overview

The Community Compost Network is a program that supports composting efforts at 11 sites across the City. The sites include community gardens, farms, and schools where residents are invited to compost their food and yard waste. Farm Philly provides the network sites with a 3-bin composting system, educational materials, hands-on and virtual training, and all of the supplies needed to run a compost operation, at no cost for participants. The program collaborates with PowerCorpsPHL to construct the bins, and with the Institute for Local Self-Reliance for educational materials and training.

Program History

Parks & Recreation launched the Community Compost Network in 2019, modeled after a similar program at the District of Columbia Department of Parks and Recreation. This type of grassroots approach to reducing waste is having a direct impact on neighborhoods and landfills, and is making a new resource from which residents can benefit. Residents in the Network are actively reducing the amount of waste going to landfill, and directly contributing to the City’s litter free and recycling goals. 

Compost System Details

Community Compost Network 3-bin system

This rodent-proof, 3-bin compost system is designed for its durability, large size, and modular nature. This system is composed of a series of 4’ x 4’ bins. In the 3-bin design, the overall footprint of the system is 4’ x 12’. Constructing the bins this modular way provides participants the option of adding additional bins. There are many open source options on the internet that provide blueprints on how to build a three-bin compost unit. Parks & Rec utilized the Compost Knox system (not currently open source) designed by the firm Urban Farm Plans.  

 

Find a Compost Site

To find a Community Compost Network site near you, interact with the map.

*Please be sure to check each site’s access information. Some sites are only open to members. Others are open for drop-off once a week. For more details, use the contact information provided at the top of each entry.

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Community Compost Site Citywide

Quotes from the Urban Agriculture Community

“Being part of the Community Composting Network has given us the knowledge and tools to help our garden, and to reduce waste in the community… It is great to know that our garden, and our food scraps, will be contributing to the city’s greening efforts.”