Sarasota County offering Free Compost and Mulch

Composting is a great way to reuse yard waste and reduce household waste, while creating a natural fertilizer for your garden.

 Sarasota County wants your garden to thrive and to require less water in the process. The county is offering free compost and mulch to residents at five county park locations. Compost is a valuable soil amendment while mulch protects root systems, thus requiring less watering. The "garden gold" is processed from yard waste picked up in the curbside collection program.

• Available to residential users only, the compost and mulch is obtainable during regular park hours at designated co post bunkers within the parks.
• Bring your own containers, shovel, and if needed, a tarp to cover your load to prevent littering.
• Please take only what you need and do not bring yard waste to this site for disposal.

Park locations are:

• Butler Park - 6205 West Price Boulevard, North Port (941) 316-1172
• Laurel park - 509 Collins Road, Laurel (941) 486-2753
• Longwood Park - 6050 Longwood Blvd, Sarasota (941) 316-1383
• Nokomis Community Park - 234 Nippino Trail, Nokomis (941) 486-2595
• Shamrock Park - 3900 West Shamrock Drive, Venice (941) 486-2706
• Free compost and mulch is also available at the Bee Ridge Landfill and the Central County Landfill (941) 861-5000
• Bulk Sales available at Central County Landfill, contact Veolia Environmental (941) 486-0085

Should you have any questions about the composting or if you need to reach the UF/IFAS Sarasota County Extension, please contact us. 

University of Florida/IFAS Sarasota County Extension

6700 Clark Rd., Twin Lakes Park,
Sarasota, Fl. 34241
Horticulture Help Desk
Phone: (941) 861-9807, FAX (941) 861-9886

Charlotte County sells Earth Machine Composter Units at their Environmental Services office, 25550 Harbor View Road, Unit 1, Port Charlotte, Florida 33980 (just off I75 at Exit 167. They are open for sales Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm. The price is $45.50.

For more information about Charlotte County composters:

(941) 764-4360
email: swr@charlottecountyfl.com
Charlotte County Website