FIRST THINGS FIRST...do not share this page!
​

DROPOFF PROGRAM IS
​FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

Every bucket of scraps we receive takes time, money and work to transform into compost.  

So please don't share details of the dropoff hubs with family and friends. Encourage them to subscribe so we know who they are and can keep them updated on the program and our collective impact. 

With your help we can keep composting affordable and acccessible for all San Diegans.

​Thank you!
This document guides our Collective towards people-powered, community-centered solutions for a circular economy 
Watch this one minute video on what is acceptable and what is not. The full video provides a glimpse of the entire journey from scraps to soil
Print this visual guide and keep it handy for family and roommates to learn what goes (in your bucket) and what doesn't

getting you oriented...

with a visual of your dropoff hub so you know what to expect when you get there, ​​instructions on where to pick up your bucket and how to dropoff your scraps.
achilles coffee roasters - 703 ash street, san diego, ca 92101
Cortez Hill at the corner of 7th and Ash
​M-F 6am-4pm and Weekends 7am-3pm
​Cart Lock Code - 0703

​Achilles Coffee is serving as a dropoff hub to support our Collective. Please respect their property, customers and employees when you are there to pick up your bucket and to drop off scraps. Thank you!

​WHERE to PICKUP YOUR BUCKET

​​Show your Food2Soil invoice to a barista and they will bring you a bucket and lid.  

preparING scraps for dropoff - NO LOOSE SCRAPS

Please bag your scraps. Cinch your bag close so foodscraps are not exposed. Place the entire bag of scraps in the dropoff cart.  Give an existing bag another chance by using old ziploc bags, bread bags, produce bags and even mail order packaging bags. ​​

Drop off your scraps every week or freeze your scraps if you will be dropping off less often. You are responsible for rinsing and cleaning your bucket.
CHOSEN FOODS - 1747 hancock street, san diego, ca 92101
​M-F 8am-5pm. Closed Weekends & Public Holidays

​Chosen Foods is serving as a dropoff hub to support our Collective. Please respect their property, customers and employees when you are there to pick up your bucket and to dropoff scraps. Thank you!

​WHERE to PICKUP YOUR BUCKET

​Buckets are placed in a gray box next to the dropoff cart. Help yourself to one bucket and lid.​

preparING scraps for dropoff - NO LOOSE SCRAPS

Please bag your scraps. Cinch your bag close so foodscraps are not exposed. Place the entire bag of scraps in the dropoff cart.  Give an existing bag another chance by using old ziploc bags, bread bags, produce bags and even mail order packaging bags. ​​

Drop off your scraps every week or freeze your scraps if you will be dropping off less often. You are responsible for rinsing and cleaning your bucket.
THE CAT CAFE - 472 THIRD AVENUE, san diego, ca 92101
Dropoff area is in the parking lot adjacent to The Cat Cafe. Dropoff anytime during daylight hours.
Cart Lock Code - 4720

WHERE to pick up your bucket

Buckets and lids for new subscribers are placed in the cart. The lock code is the same as the foodscraps cart. Help yourself to one bucket and one lid.
​

dropping your scraps - COVER SCRAPS WITH MULCH

This is a bag free dropoff.  Dropoff your loose scraps in the cart marked 'Vegetative Foodscraps Only'.  

Open the black mulch cart (same lock code as the other carts). Use the trowel to scoop mulch into the container provided. Use roughly one or two servings of mulch to completely cover your foodscraps. Make sure you close the carts and put the lock back on securely when you are finished.

Drop off your scraps every week or freeze your scraps if you will be dropping off less often. You are responsible for rinsing and cleaning your bucket.

​The Cat Cafe is serving as a dropoff hub to support our Collective. Please respect their property, customers and neighbors when you are there to pick up your bucket and to drop off scraps. Thank you!
NORTH MISSION HILLS - 4227 IBIS STREET, san diego, ca 92103
Dropoff anytime preferably during daylight hours.

WHERE to pick up your bucket

Buckets and lids for new subscribers are placed near the tree in front of the wheelbarrow and to the right of the compost setup. Help yourself to one bucket and one lid.
​

dropping your scraps - COVER SCRAPS WITH MULCH

This is a bag free dropoff. Dropoff area is by the fence near the cul de sac. Dropoff your loose scraps in the cart labelled 'Vegetative Foodscraps Only'.

Open the gray mulch box placed next to the cart. Use the trowel to scoop mulch into the container provided. Use roughly one or two servings of mulch to completely cover the foodscraps you placed in the bucket.

Drop off your scraps every week or freeze your scraps if you will be dropping off less often. You are responsible for rinsing and cleaning your bucket.

​The homeowners are serving as a dropoff hub to support our Collective. Please respect their property, guests and neighbors when you are there to pick up your bucket and to drop off scraps. Thank you!
CITY HEIGHTS - 4773 DWIGHT STREET, san diego, ca 92105
Cart Code - 4773
​Dropoff anytime preferably during daylight hours.

WHERE to pick up your bucket

Buckets and lids for new subscribers are placed in the blue barrel. Help yourself to one bucket and one lid.
​​

dropping your scraps - COVER SCRAPS WITH MULCH

This is a bag free dropoff.  Dropoff your loose scraps in the cart labelled 'Vegetative Foodscraps Only'.

Open the black mulch cart placed next to the bucket. Use the trowel to scoop mulch into the container provided. Use roughly one or two servings of mulch to completely cover the foodscraps you placed in the bucket. 

Drop off your scraps every week or freeze your scraps if you will be dropping off less often. You are responsible for rinsing and cleaning your bucket.

​The homeowner is serving as a dropoff hub to support our Collective. Please respect their property, guests and neighbors when you are there to pick up your bucket and to drop off scraps. Thank you!
city farmers nursery - 3110 euclid avenue, san diego, ca 92105
​Open Tuesday-Sunday 9am-5pm. Closed Mondays.

​City Farmers Nursery is serving as a dropoff hub to support our Collective. Please respect their property, customers and employees when you are there to pick up your bucket and to drop off scraps. Thank you!

​WHERE to PICKUP YOUR BUCKET

​​Buckets are placed in the patio behind the store alongside other compost supplies. Go through the main office past the sales counter towards the back patio area to pick up your bucket and lid.​

DROPPING YOUR SCRAPS - COVER SCRAPS WITH MULCH

This is a bag free dropoff.  Dropoff your loose scraps in the cart marked 'Vegetative Foodscraps Only'.  

Open the black mulch cart (same lock code as the other carts). Use the trowel to scoop mulch into the container provided. Use roughly one or two servings of mulch to completely cover your foodscraps. Make sure you close the carts and put the lock back on securely when you are finished.

Drop off your scraps every week or freeze your scraps if you will be dropping off less often. You are responsible for rinsing and cleaning your bucket.
POINT LOMA - 2335 LUCERNE DRIVE, san diego, ca 92106
Cart Code - 2335
​Dropoff anytime preferably during daylight hours.

WHERE to pick up your bucket

Buckets and lids for new subscribers are placed in the blue barrel. Help yourself to one bucket and one lid.
​​

dropping your scraps - COVER SCRAPS WITH MULCH

This is a bag free dropoff.  Dropoff your loose scraps in the cart labelled 'Vegetative Foodscraps Only'.

Open the black mulch cart placed next to the bucket. Use the trowel to scoop mulch into the container provided. Use roughly one or two servings of mulch to completely cover the foodscraps you placed in the bucket. 

Drop off your scraps every week or freeze your scraps if you will be dropping off less often. You are responsible for rinsing and cleaning your bucket.

​The homeowner is serving as a dropoff hub to support our Collective. Please respect their property, guests and neighbors when you are there to pick up your bucket and to drop off scraps. Thank you!
christ lutheran church - 1004 Chalcedony street, san diego, ca 92109
​God's Garage Parking Lot located on Chalcedony Street
​Dropoff Anytime Preferably During Daylight Hours
Cart Lock Code - 1004

​Christ Lutheran Church is serving as a dropoff hub to support our Collective. Please respect their property, members and community when you are there to pick up your bucket and to drop off scraps. Thank you!

WHERE to PICKUP YOUR BUCKET

​​New buckets and lids are placed in the blue barrel. Help yourself to one bucket and lid.​​

DROPPING YOUR SCRAPS - COVER SCRAPS WITH MULCH

This is a bag free dropoff. Dropoff your scraps in the bin labelled 'Vegetative Scraps Only'. Unlock the cart and empty your loose scraps in it. 

Open the mulch cart placed next to it (same lock code as the other cart). Use the trowel to scoop mulch into the container provided. Use roughly one or two servings of mulch to completely cover the foodscraps you placed in the dropoff cart. 

Drop off your scraps every week or freeze your scraps if you will be dropping off less often. You are responsible for rinsing and cleaning your bucket.
ocean view community garden - 4540 ocean view blvd, san diego, ca 92113
​Dropoff area is located in the vacant lot. 
Dropoff anytime preferably during daylight hours.
Cart Lock Code - 4540
​

​WHERE to PICKUP YOUR BUCKET

Collect your bucket and lid from the gray tote cart marked 'Clean Buckets and Lids for New Members'. Help yourself to one bucket and one lid.​

DROPPING YOUR SCRAPS - COVER SCRAPS WITH MULCH

This is a bag free dropoff. Dropoff your scraps in the bin labelled 'Vegetative Scraps Only'. Unlock the cart and empty your loose scraps in it. 

Open the mulch cart placed next to it. Use the trowel to scoop mulch into the container provided. Use roughly one or two servings of mulch to completely cover the foodscraps you placed in the dropoff cart. 

Drop off your scraps every week or freeze your scraps if you will be dropping off less often. You are responsible for rinsing and cleaning your bucket.
The garden is serving as a dropoff hub to support our Collective. Please respect their property, residents and community when you are there to pick up your bucket and to drop off scraps. Thank you!
SECOND CHANCE YOUTH GARDEN - 6145 IMPERIAL AVENUE, san diego, ca 92114
​Dropoff area is located as you enter the farm. Dropoff anytime preferably during daylight hours.
Cart Lock Code - 6145
​

​​WHERE to PICKUP YOUR BUCKET

Collect your bucket and lid from the cart marked 'Food2Soil Members Only - 'Find Clean Buckets In Here'​

DROPPING YOUR SCRAPS - COVER SCRAPS WITH MULCH

This is a bag free dropoff. Dropoff your scraps in the bin labelled 'Vegetative Scraps Only'. Unlock the cart and empty your loose scraps in it. 

Open the mulch cart placed next to it. Use the trowel to scoop mulch into the container provided. Use roughly one or two servings of mulch to completely cover the foodscraps you placed in the dropoff cart. 

Drop off your scraps every week or freeze your scraps if you will be dropping off less often. You are responsible for rinsing and cleaning your bucket.

​
Second Chance is serving as a dropoff hub to support our Collective. Please respect their farm, clients, produce and youth when you are there to pick up your bucket and to drop off scraps. Thank you!
university heights - 4446 arizona street, san diego, ca 92116
Dropoff area is located in the alley between Arizona Street and Texas Street. Enter the alley from Meade Avenue or Monroe Avenue. Go halfways until you see the garage doors in the picture above. The dropoff area is by the fence, next to the dumpsters. Dropoff anytime preferably during daylight hours.
​
Cart Lock Code - 4446

​

WHERE to pick up your bucket

Buckets and lids for new subscribers are placed in the gray tote. Help yourself to one bucket and one lid.  Please make sure you close the lid properly after taking your bucket.

DROPPING YOUR SCRAPS - COVER SCRAPS WITH MULCH

This is a bag free dropoff. Dropoff your scraps in the bin labelled 'Vegetative Scraps Only'. Unlock the cart and empty your loose scraps in it. 
​
Open the mulch cart placed next to it. Use the trowel to scoop mulch into the container provided. Use roughly one or two servings of mulch to completely cover the foodscraps you placed in the dropoff cart. 

Drop off your scraps every week or freeze your scraps if you will be dropping off less often. You are responsible for rinsing and cleaning your bucket.

​The owners and residents of 4446 Arizona St. are serving as a dropoff hub to support our Collective. Please respect their property, residents and community when you are there to pick up your bucket and to drop off scraps. Thank you!
ADAMS AVENUE - 3844 ADAMS AVENUE, san diego, ca 92116
Dropoff area is located in the parking lot of Little Sprouts Academy behind the trash enclosure.

Dropoff anytime preferably during daylight hours.
​
Cart Lock Code - 3844​

WHERE to pick up your bucket

Buckets and lids for new subscribers are placed in the blue barell. Help yourself to one bucket and one lid.  Please make sure you close the lid properly after taking your bucket.

DROPPING YOUR SCRAPS - COVER SCRAPS WITH MULCH

This is a bag free dropoff. Dropoff your scraps in the bin labelled 'Vegetative Scraps Only'. Unlock the cart and empty your loose scraps in it.

Open the mulch cart placed next to it. Use the trowel to scoop mulch into the container provided. Use roughly one or two servings of mulch to completely cover the foodscraps you placed in the dropoff cart. 

Drop off your scraps every week or freeze your scraps if you will be dropping off less often. You are responsible for rinsing and cleaning your bucket.

​Little Sprouts Academy is serving as a dropoff hub to support our Collective. Please respect their property, students, families and community when you are there to pick up your bucket and to drop off scraps. Thank you!
san carlos community garden - 6460 boulder lake avenue, san diego, ca 92119
Dropoff area is located near the gate on Lake Adlon
Dropoff anytime preferably during daylight hours.
​Cart Lock Code - 6460
​
​The garden is is serving as a dropoff hub to support our Collective. Please respect their property, members and community when you are there to pick up your bucket and to drop off scraps. Thank you!

WHERE to pick up your bucket

Buckets and lids for new subscribers are placed near the dropoff area. Help yourself to one bucket and one lid.

DROPPING YOUR SCRAPS - COVER SCRAPS WITH MULCH

This is a bag free dropoff. Dropoff your scraps in the bin labelled 'Vegetative Scraps Only'. Unlock the cart and empty your loose scraps in it. 

Open the mulch cart placed next to it. Use the trowel to scoop mulch into the container provided. Use roughly one or two servings of mulch to completely cover the foodscraps you placed in the dropoff cart. 

Drop off your scraps every week or freeze your scraps if you will be dropping off less often. You are responsible for rinsing and cleaning your bucket.
BASTYR UNIVERSITY - 4106 SORRENTO VALLEY BLVD, san diego, ca 92121
Dropoff area is located between the building 4106 and 4110 adjacent to the trash enclosure. Dropoff anytime preferably during daylight hours.
​Cart Lock Code - 4106
​
Limited to Bastyr affiliates, students and staff only.

WHERE to pick up your bucket

Buckets and lids for new subscribers are placed in the gray tote near the dropoff area. Help yourself to one bucket and one lid.

DROPPING YOUR SCRAPS - COVER SCRAPS WITH MULCH

This is a bag free dropoff. Dropoff your scraps in the bin labelled 'Vegetative Scraps Only'. Unlock the cart and empty your loose scraps in it. 

Open the blue bin with mulch that is placed next to it. Use the trowel to scoop mulch into the container provided. Use roughly one or two servings of mulch to completely cover the foodscraps you placed in the dropoff cart. 

Drop off your scraps every week or freeze your scraps if you will be dropping off less often. You are responsible for rinsing and cleaning your bucket.
scripps ranch - 10855 elderwood road, san diego, ca 92131
Dropoff anytime preferably during daylight hours.
​

WHERE to pick up your bucket

Buckets and lids for new subscribers are placed inside the gray box under the tree that provides shade to the compost setup. Help yourself to one bucket and one lid.
​

dropping your scraps - COVER SCRAPS WITH MULCH

This is a bag free dropoff. Dropoff area is across from the compost setup. Dropoff your loose scraps in the white and gray bin labelled 'Vegetative Scraps Only'. 

Open the mulch cart placed next to it. Use the trowel to scoop mulch into the container provided. Use roughly one or two servings of mulch to completely cover the foodscraps you placed in the dropoff cart. 

Drop off your scraps every week or freeze your scraps if you will be dropping off less often. You are responsible for rinsing and cleaning your bucket.

​The homeowners are serving as a dropoff hub to support our Collective. Please respect their property, guests and neighbors when you are there to pick up your bucket and to drop off scraps. Thank you!

BENEFITS FOR SUBSCRIBERS

  • Members receive discounted price on the purchase of sifted finished compost SoilFood.
  • Members can help themselves to 'All You Can Sift Compost' at any community compost hub during working hours.
  • The 5th quarter of subscription after every four paid quarters is complimentary and on us! 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

WHY ARE DROPOFF CARTS LOCKED?
We lock carts when we see a high rate of contamination or when there is risk that the cart will be used as a trash bin by people passing by. Locked carts provide you with a cleaner dropoff experience and reduces the volume of material we have to discard due to contamination and trash.
WHY DO I HAVE TO PAY TO PARTICIPATE IN YOUR DROPOFF PROGRAMS?
We have tools to purchase, bills to pay, and a vocation to build for soil farmers who want to make a career in regenerating soil. 

Our cost to process one batch of foodscraps (appoximately 27 cubic feet) is $260. One batch yields approximately six cubic feet of sifted, finished compost which earns $40. We make up the remaining $220 by offering pickup services and dropoff programs.

We also accept foodscraps at no charge at the San Carlos Community Garden once a week. Check schedule for free weekly dropoffs.
WHY DO YOU REQUIRE SCRAPS TO BE BAGGED?
The short answer is to prevent odors, reduce the incidence of critters and fruit flies nesting inside the carts and to protect compost technicians from injuries while transferring scraps from carts to compost bins. 
​
A fuller explanation on How We Got To Plastic Bags is available here.

Watch this video to experience gnats flying in your face when opening a cart which has loose foodscraps. We are trying to offer a cleaner dropoff experience to our subscribers. 

If you have ideas and suggestions to help us move away from single use plastic bags or repurpose bags that are already going into the trash stream please send us an email.
CAN I GET A SMALLER COLLECTION PAIL?
We occasionally have smaller buckets which are 1 or 3 gallons in capacity. Please send us an email if you would like a smaller collection pail. We'll try our best to get you one but please understand there are no guarantees. 
WILL YOU ACCEPT THE FOLLOWING ITEMS FOR COMPOSTING?
  • ​Soil from indoor/outdoor planting projects – YES
  • Fallen leaves from plants/trees - YES
  • Succulents, cactus, indoor plants, bouquets that have died or withered - YES​
  • Manure and bedding of guinea pigs and other vegeterian pets - NO
CAN I PUT PAPER IN MY COMPOSTABLES BUCKET?
We are not accepting any paper based items from our subscribers at this time. Paper comes in many varieties - bleached, unbleached, Kleenex, toilet rolls, kitchen rolls, dryel sheets, bounce sheets etc. Kitchen towels could have made contact with non-vegetative waste which the City prevents us from accepting in our stream. 

We do not have the manpower to ensure that the paper coming through our stream will allow us to comply with municipal regulations and public hygiene and sanitation requirements. Since we are operating at a community scale we have to put in certain fail safe measures to keep our costs low and operations feasible.