Compost Video

Compost for Sale

Cal Poly organic compost is available for sale in bulk quantities or by the bag. Cal Poly Compost is sold year round but is typically purchased during the spring and fall to add soil amendment for gardens, lawns and flower beds.  

Bulk compost is available for $50 per cubic yard. Please call ahead so we can schedule a time for you to come pick up your compost.

For more information call: 805-756-2563

Directions:

Enter campus on Highland Drive, turn left on Mount Bishop Road, stay to the right on to dirt road and follow signs up to compost unit.

Cal Poly Compost Production

Cal Poly began on-campus composting operations during the 1990s. Initially, the operations relied on static piles to compost manure. In 1997, Dr. Doug Willimas initiated windrow composting operations, which developed into an enterprise project with the BioResource and Agricultural Engineering Department. As the composting operations expanded and required increased management, they were assigned to the Agricultural Operations Department.  Today, under the guidance of department staff and supervision of student employees, the compost unit processes over 7,000 cubic yards of manure and 3,500 cubic yards of green waste and wood chips into 3,500 cubic yards of finished compost

The composting operations process livestock manure from the dairy, beef evaluation center, beef unit, equine center, and poultry unit and incorporate the green waste generated from campus landscaping. In 2011 the Cal Poly composting operations became members of the U.S. Composting Council's Seal of Testing Assurance Program.

Manure Management

As part of Cal Poly's Water Quality Management Plan, Agricultural Operations is responsible for maintaining the confined livestock operations on the campus farm. This involves manure management of both solids and liquids. Solids are removed routinely and composted or spread on approved fields and pastures identified in the water quality management plan.  Liquids are captured within lagoons at several of the animal units. The accumulated lagoon water is then utilized as an irrigation resource on fields and pastures approved within the water quality management plan. Associated with the use of both lagoon water and lagoon solids are specific quarterly water quality monitoring requirements designed to ensure proper use and monitoring of ground water resources.

Center for Sustainability: http://www.sarc.calpoly.edu/

U.S. Composting Council: http://compostingcouncil.org/

CDFA: California Department of Food and Agriculture: https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/