Climate Action and Sustainability

Mulch Pick-Up Program

The free municipal mulch yard is located in thein the northeast corner of the Willow Springs Park parking lot at 2745 Orange Ave (between Willow St. and Spring St.). 

Mulch is available for pickup daily from dawn until dusk.

This is a self-service pick up, so please be sure to bring your own tools/containers/bags when picking up mulch. The pick-up program is not limited to residents of Long Beach. We ask you to please not block access to the yard or the piles with your car. Also, please help us keep the area clean by throwing away any trash you may come across in the yard into one of the nearby trash cans.

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Mulch Delivery Program

About The Mulch

Every year the City of Long Beach produces an average of 12,000 tons of green waste from standard tree trimming maintenance. The City works to keep this resource from going to landfills by making it available to use in landscaping and delivering to Long Beach residents through our Mulch Delivery Program.

Mulch from City tree trimming operations offers a number of landscaping advantages including weed reduction, added nutrients, soil temperature moderation, water retention, improved soil structure, beautification, and improved root systems. We recommend the mulch be used as ground cover, at least 2" thick (4" if being used for weed reduction). After about 12-18 months, the mulch will become a fine, compost material that can then be worked into the soil.

Funding for this program is provided by state and federal grants through the Conservation Corps of Long Beach.

Eligibility & Information

Only Long Beach residents are eligible for the mulch delivery program. However, the municipal mulch yard is accessible to anyone. 

Mulch will be delivered to your property using rolling bins that can be unloaded either in a single location or multiple locations within the property boundaries. It can be left on driveways, parkways, front yards, or backyards. For a backyard delivery, the property owner must be present to allow our delivery team access. Mulch cannot be left on sidewalks, public walkways, or road surfaces. Due to the high volume of deliveries, we cannot spread the mulch.

How to Request a Mulch Delivery

The mulch booking page is available below for eligible Long Beach residents. One full delivery of mulch is about 2 cubic yards, the equivalent of covering 15 x 15 feet with 3 inches of mulch. A half delivery is the equivalent of covering 10 x 10 feet with 3 inches of mulch.

On the new Mulch Bookings system, you can choose your delivery date and time. Please note that your mulch will arrive at any point within an hour of your delivery time slot. Due to high demand, bookings are typically only able to be made 6 months in advance. Only one booking is allowed at a time per customer – you must wait until your delivery is completed to schedule a second delivery. If you schedule a mulch delivery and no longer need it, you are responsible for cancelling your booking at least two days prior to the delivery date.

Frequently Asked Questions About Mulch Delivery

• Who is eligible for a mulch delivery?

  All Long Beach residents are eligible to receive free mulch deliveries. The property owner must submit the request for mulch.

• How soon can I receive a mulch delivery?

  Due to high demand, deliveries are typically only able to be scheduled 6 months or more in advance. If there are no bookings available, please check back the following week for the soonest available date. 

• Can I receive the mulch delivery in the backyard?

  Mulch deliveries can be placed in the backyard, however, the homeowner must provide access to the backyard for the mulch delivery team in-person or leave a signed note authorizing the mulch delivery team to enter the backyard.

• What if I need to cancel or change my delivery date?

  If you schedule a mulch delivery and no longer need it, you are responsible for cancelling your booking at least two days prior to the delivery date. These options are available through your Bookings e-mail confirmation. For questions, please reach out to the office at mulch@longbeach.gov or by calling (562) 570-6396.

• How much mulch can I get?

  Residents may request one mulch delivery per address at a time. If you would like an additional delivery of mulch, please wait until after your currently pending delivery has been completed before submitting an additional Mulch Request Form. You may receive a rejection email if you have two pending requests for mulch.

• How much mulch comes in a delivery?

  Residents may request a full delivery or a half delivery. A full delivery is approximately 2 cubic yards, or the equivalent of covering 15 x 15 feet with 3 inches of mulch. A half delivery is the equivalent of covering 10 x 10 feet with 3 inches of mulch.

  The mulch is delivered in rolling bins, similar to the trash bins you likely have at home. A full delivery is 12 rolling bins, and a half delivery is 6 rolling bins.

• Should I request a full or half delivery?

  The amount of mulch you might need will depend on how much ground you need to cover and the purpose. We recommend you cover the ground in at least 2 inches of mulch. For weed reduction, 4 inches is recommended. 

  A full delivery spread out 2 inches thick will cover approximately 15x15 feet of space. A full delivery spread out 4 inches thick will cover approximately 7.5x7.5 feet of space.

• What if I don’t live in Long Beach?

  Only Long Beach residents are eligible for mulch deliveries. If you are not a Long Beach resident, mulch is available for free pickup at the Municipal Mulch Yard located in the Willow Springs Park parking lot at 2745 Orange Ave (between Willow St. and Spring St.) Take a look at the “Mulch Pick-Up Program” section of the Mulch Program webpage for more information on self-service mulch pickup.

• What is mulch used for?

  Mulch offers a number of landscaping advantages including weed reduction, added nutrients, soil temperature moderation, water retention, improved soil structure, beautification, and improved root systems. We recommend the mulch be used as ground cover, at least 2" thick (4" if being used for weed reduction). After about 12-18 months, the mulch will become a fine, compost material that can then be worked into the soil.

• Where does the mulch come from?

  Our mulch comes from City tree trimming. Every year the City of Long Beach produces an average of 12,000 tons of green waste from standard tree trimming maintenance. The City works to keep this resource from going to landfills by making it available to use in landscaping as mulch. 

• What is the quality of the mulch?

  The appearance of mulch varies due to the variety of trees that are trimmed. Sometimes the mulch may be greener and fresher than mulch that can be purchased at nurseries or home improvement stores. The ratio of woody material to leaves in the mulch may also vary depending on the season and the types of trees that are trimmed.  

  You may discover mold in your mulch. This mold naturally occurs in mulch kept in piles due to the decomposition process. If you notice a large amount of mold in your mulch, you may want to wear a mask when spreading. Once your mulch is spread and exposed to light and air, the mold will go away.  

  Because insects are naturally attracted to mulch piles, you may discover insects while spreading your mulch. The mulch is sourced locally and these insects are common in the Long Beach area. If you encounter white grubs about 1 inch long, they are likely of the fig-eater beetle species and are easily removable (these are the bright green, iridescent beetles seen throughout the summer). Chickens are very fond of these grubs.  

For more information, contact:

Mulch Program
Mulch@longbeach.gov
Office: 562.570.6396 (ext. 1)
411 W. Ocean Blvd., 10th floor
Long Beach, CA 90802