Backyard composting turns kitchen scraps into something useful, and Tampa residents have two official routes to get started: a City of Tampa bin program and workshops run through Hillsborough County. This guide explains how each works, what can go in a backyard bin and who to contact. For more everyday resources, visit the residents section of this site.
Does the county offer composting programs or bins?
Yes. Hillsborough County invites residents to attend a composting workshop led by the Hillsborough County UF/IFAS Extension department. The county says that registering and attending a workshop includes a presentation, compost bin, and kitchen bucket.
So a county workshop gives you three things in one visit:
- A presentation on backyard composting
- A compost bin
- A kitchen bucket
The City of Tampa bin program
The City of Tampa runs its own program. According to the city, this program provides free backyard composting bins for single-family homes. There are a few rules to know before applying.
Who can take part
The city says the program is only available to City of Tampa residents serviced by the Department of Solid Waste. If your address is not served by the city's Department of Solid Waste, the county workshop described above is the route to look at.
The workshop is required
The city states that completion of Tampa's mandatory compost workshop is required. The bin is not handed out on request alone: the workshop comes first.
When the bin arrives
Once your waiver is in, the city says: you will receive your bin curbside 14 days after submitting your waiver. Plan on a two-week wait between the waiver and delivery, and be ready for the bin to be left at the curb.
What can residents compost at home?
Hillsborough County lists food scraps like banana peels and apple cores as material that can be composted. Those two examples point to the kind of everyday kitchen waste that suits a backyard bin: fruit and vegetable scraps left over from cooking and snacking.
The kitchen bucket that comes with a county workshop is a handy way to collect scraps indoors before carrying them out to the bin. For a fuller picture of what belongs in a backyard bin and how to care for it, the presentation at the county workshop is the place to ask.
City program or county workshop: which fits?
Both options lead to a backyard bin, but they work a little differently:
- The City of Tampa program offers a free bin for single-family homes, requires its mandatory compost workshop and delivers the bin curbside 14 days after the waiver is submitted.
- The Hillsborough County workshop is led by the UF/IFAS Extension department and includes a presentation, a compost bin and a kitchen bucket when you register and attend.
If you live in a single-family home served by the City of Tampa Department of Solid Waste, the city program is an option. Anyone else interested in composting can look at the county workshop. Check each program's page for current details before you commit.
Tips for getting started
- Confirm which program matches your address and home type.
- Complete the required workshop or register for the county workshop.
- If you use the city program, watch for your bin at the curb 14 days after you submit the waiver.
- Start with simple food scraps such as banana peels and apple cores.
- Keep questions handy for the workshop presentation.
More local resources are collected in the residents section, and the quick reference page may help with other everyday questions.
Who to contact
- Questions about reducing food waste: email Recycling@HCFL.gov, the address Hillsborough County lists.
- City of Tampa Solid Waste Administration: (813) 348-1146, as listed on the City of Tampa program page.
Sources
Compiled from the official sources below.