Helping Santa Fe rethink their waste
Recycle
Backyard Composting
Green waste or yard waste consists of yard trimmings, leaves, and flowers from landscapes and parks. Mulching or composting green waste is a great way to keep biodegradable waste out of the landfill.


PLASTIC # 1-7 RECYCLING
Capital Scrap Metal now accepts plastic # 1-7 for recycling!
Capital Scrap Metal>
FreeMulchWidget FREE MULCH! FREE MULCH!
Beautify your landscape or compost bin with local mulch. It might even help reduce your water bill.
read more >

PHONE BOOK RECYCLING
You can recycle your phone books at any of the following drop off bin locations:
BuRRT >
County Transfer Stations >
City of Santa Fe Environmental Services Division >
BUCKMAN ROAD RECYCLING & TRANSFER STATION HOURS: 8:00am - 4:45pm Mon - Sun
CAJA DEL RIO LANDFILL
HOURS: 7:00am - 5:00pm Mon - Sat
If you generate a lot of yard and food waste, consider composting! Composting is simply mixed organic matter (food waste and green waste) left to decompose, with a little elbow grease. The end product is a natural fertilizer and soil amendment for you to use in your own garden or share with your neighbors!

Composting not only prevents biodegradable waste from going to the landfill, but it also reduces the amount of synthetic fertilizers and water needed when used as a soil amendment. Whether you choose to make a pile or an aerobic bin, composting is easy and fun to watch Mother Nature take her course.

Visit Composting Instructions for easy information on how to compost in your backyard. Or use the New Mexico Environment Department – Backyard Composting Made Easy Brochure in English / Spanish

Backyard composting is also a great way to figure out how much food waste you actually produce, and maybe you can figure out how to waste less.  Visit the King County Washington website for great tips on how to reduce that wasted food and money.

Backyard Compost No-No’s:

Large branches Search
Branches should be mulched before composted for easier decomposition.

Meats, dairy, grease, oil, bones Search
They can attract rodents and pests and have a difficult time breaking down in a backyard bin.

Pallets Search
Pallet wood usually has nails and is treated which is not desired for landscape applications.

Palm Fronds Search
The fibers in a palm frond are too difficult to mulch or compost.

What is vermicompost?

Vermicompost, or worm composting, is the process of composting using various species of worms (usually red wigglers, white worms, and/or earthworms) to decompose food waste and some plant material.  Worm castings, or “black gold”, are the end-product of vermicomposting and it can be used as a soil amendment that helps improve the physical structure of the soil, enhances germination, increases plant growth and crop yield, and reduces waste to the landfill.

Small-scale vermicomposting is ideal to turn kitchen waste into high-quality soil amendments without the additional physical effort (turning the bin) that bin composting requires.

What can I feed the worms?

  • All fruits and vegetables (including citrus and other “high acid” foods)
  • Vegetable and fruit peels and ends
  • Coffee grounds and filters
  • Tea bags (even those with high tannin levels)
  • Grains such as bread, cracker and cereal (including moldy and stale)
  • Eggshells (rinsed off)
  • Leaves and grass clippings

How can I start vermicomposting?

You can call Payne’s Organic Soil Yard to purchase a bin and worms to start vermicomposting in your own backyard, today!

Payne’s Organic Soil Yard

6037 Agua Fria, Santa Fe

505-424-0336