Making your own compost is awesome! But, there are a bunch of rules about what can be composted when and in what situation. There's really too much to remember it all for a single person. Luckily for you, we've created a detailed guide on what can be composted and what cannot be composted.
Because we know some of the specifics can get confusing, we've also added a FAQ section to answer your most pressing composting questions. We'd suggest giving the guide a full read your first time around, but if you want to use this as a quick-check reference in the future, you can use one of these handy links to jump ahead:
- What can and cannot be composted?
- What food scraps can be composted?
- What household items can be composted?
- What office items can you compost?
- What animal and pet waste can you compost?
- What yard and garden waste can be composted?
- Creating a balanced compost: get your C to N ratio right!
- 7 FAQs on composting and compostable items
For those of you coming in brand new to composting, let's start with a few common examples of items that should and should not be composted!
What can and cannot be composted?
What is compostable is organic waste, while inorganic waste isn't compostable. This essentially means any waste that was once, or has come from, living things can be composted. That includes food, plants, and waste from our bodies (such as hair). However, there are some limitations on what can be composted.
The types of organic waste that can be composted depends on many factors, including the method of composting you choose. But, in general, here are some common examples of what to put in compost and what not to throw in your compost bin:
Compostable Items |
Non-Compostable Items |
|
|
Although everything in that table is organic waste, there are some good examples of what not to compost. Each of those not compostable materials will cause some sort of problem in your backyard composting pile.
For example, meat and dairy products can technically be composted, but they're likely to smell terrible and attract pests that you don't want anywhere near your home. There are also bacterial concerns with meat products you don't want to introduce to your garden beds.
It's also important to remember that some composting methods can compost organic waste that traditional composting can't handle. An electric food recycler like Lomi, for instance, can easily break down approved bioplastics you'd want to avoid putting in a regular pre-compost heap.
What food scraps can be composted?
Most food scraps can be safely composted, but there are of course some exceptions. One exception we already mentioned is that you can't compost meat or dairy products (at least not traditionally). There are a few other exceptions to keep in mind as well.
For some specifics, here's a table of what food waste can be composted and what food waste you should avoid composting. We’ve also included a column to let you know if the waste is considered green or brown pre-compost. This is important to keep in mind as you need a good amount of both types, but we’ll be discussing that in more detail later.
Food Item |
Compostable? |
Brown vs Green |
Other Considerations |
Banana peels |
✔ |
Green |
See this article for more details |
Coffee grounds |
✔ |
Green |
See this article for more details |
Tea leaves |
✔ |
Green |
|
Bread |
✔ |
Green |
See this article for more details |
Corn husks |
✔ |
Green |
See this article for more details |
Grains |
✔ |
Green |
|
Legumes |
✔ |
Green |
|
Cooked pasta |
✔ |
Green |
|
Cooked rice |
✔ |
Green |
|
Tofu |
✔ |
Green |
|
Liquids |
✔ |
Green |
Only use a small amount to not make your compost too wet |
Seaweed |
✔ |
Green |
|
Herbs and spices |
✔ |
Green |
|
Old preserves |
✔ |
Green |
|
Watermelon Rind |
✔ |
Green |
See this article for more details |
Pineapple |
✔ |
Green |
See this article for more details |
Egg shells |
✔ |
Brown |
See this article for more details |
Coffee filters |
✔ |
Brown |
See this article for more details |
Tea bags |
✔ |
Brown |
See this article for more details |
Orange peels |
𝗫 |
N/A |
Too acidic |
Lemon Peels |
𝗫 |
N/A |
Too acidic |
Onions |
𝗫 |
N/A |
Can kill good microorganisms in compost |
Meat scraps |
𝗫 |
N/A |
See this article for more details |
Dairy products |
𝗫 |
N/A |
See this article for more details |
Pistachio shells |
𝗫 |
N/A |
See this article for more details |
Bones |
𝗫 |
N/A |
Can attract pests |
Very greasy & fatty foods |
𝗫 |
N/A |
Can attract pests |
Fruit pits |
𝗫 |
N/A |
Takes a very long time to break down |
One exception is that you don't want to compost a bunch of acidic organic waste, especially citrus peels. This will make your finished compost too acidic, which you then won't want to use in your plants.
You'll also want to steer clear of organic waste that will take far too long to compost compared to the rest of the food scraps in your compost bins. This includes waste like hard bones and fruit pits. It's also important to crush scrap like egg shells or they'll also take too long to compost.
What household items can be composted?
Your kitchen scraps aren't the only compostable waste coming from your home. Whether you've thought about it or not, there's actually lots of organic matter all-around your house. Of course, you still have to be careful about what you're composting, as not all of that waste can be composted.
Here's a list of household items that can and can not be composted:
Household Item |
Compostable? |
Brown vs Green |
Other Considerations |
Cardboard |
✔ |
Brown |
See this article for more details |
Paper towel |
✔ |
Brown |
|
Toilet paper rolls |
✔ |
Brown |
Shred first |
Cotton balls |
✔ |
Brown |
|
Natural fabric dryer lint |
✔ |
Brown |
|
Newspaper |
✔ |
Brown |
Shred first |
Egg cartons |
✔ |
Brown |
See this article for more details |
Burlap sacks |
✔ |
Brown |
Cut up first |
Used matches |
✔ |
Brown |
|
Cotton towels and sheets |
✔ |
Brown |
Cut up first |
Old natural loofahs |
✔ |
Brown |
Cut up first |
Nail clippings |
✔ |
Brown |
|
Hair from your hairbrush |
✔ |
Brown |
|
Wine corks |
✔ |
Brown |
Chop up first |
Old wool and cotton clothing |
✔ |
Brown |
Rip into small pieces first |
Bamboo |
✔ |
Brown |
See this article for more details |
Parchment paper |
✔ |
Brown |
See this article for more details |
Pizza box |
✔ |
Brown |
See this article for more details |
Wax paper |
𝗫 |
N/A |
See this article for more details |
Aluminium foil |
𝗫 |
N/A |
|
Diapers |
𝗫 |
N/A |
|
Used feminine hygiene products |
𝗫 |
N/A |
|
Synthetic soaps |
𝗫 |
N/A |
Unless certified biodegradable |
Cellophane |
𝗫 |
N/A |
Requires industrial composting |
Coated cardboard |
𝗫 |
N/A |
Contains plastic |
Cigarettes |
𝗫 |
N/A |
Filled with chemicals |
Produce netting |
𝗫 |
N/A |
|
Sticky fruit and veggie labels |
𝗫 |
N/A |
Contains plastic |
Charcoal |
𝗫 |
N/A |
Contains too much sulphur and iron |
Bioplastics |
𝗫 |
N/A |
Requires industrial composting |
To add some context, although many of these household items are made mostly from organic materials, they're not completely organic. For example, while the fruit and veggie labels are made of paper, they're also made with chemicals and materials that cannot be composted. You want to avoid putting anything that can't be composted into your compost pile.
When it comes to bioplastics, the issue with traditional composting is its inability to reach ideal conditions. Approved bioplastics can be broken down in industrial settings or by Lomi because they can create conditions and heat that you can't reach with a regular compost pile. If you were to throw bioplastics in your compost bin, they would take a very long time to break down.
What office items can be composted?
Whether you have a home office setup or are commuting to an office, some of your supplies can be composted rather than thrown in the bin. Even when commuting, it’s a great idea to bag up the compostables and bring them home with you. You can even ask for your coworker’s compostables if you need to stock up on some brown items.
Here’s a list of the most common office supplies you can and cannot compost:
Office Item |
Compostable? |
Brown vs Green |
Other Considerations |
Paper |
✔ |
Brown |
Shred first |
Pencil shavings |
✔ |
Brown |
|
Junk mail |
✔ |
Brown |
Shred first |
Bills |
✔ |
Brown |
Shred first |
Envelopes |
✔ |
Brown |
Shred first, and remove any plastic windows |
Sticky notes |
✔ |
Brown |
Shred first |
Business cards |
✔ |
Brown |
Only if they’re paper and not glossy |
Brown packing paper |
✔ |
Brown |
See this article for more details |
Colored paper |
𝗫 |
N/A |
Can contain heavy metals and other toxins |
Wrapping paper |
𝗫 |
N/A |
Can contain heavy metals and other toxins |
Paper with Sharpie markings |
𝗫 |
N/A |
Can contain heavy metals and other toxins |
Paper with color printing |
𝗫 |
N/A |
Can contain heavy metals and other toxins |
Glossy or coated paper |
𝗫 |
N/A |
Contains plastic |
What animal and pet waste can you compost?
Our pets are adorable, and we love them, but they also create plenty of waste. With how much of a mess they tend to make, some of that waste must be compostable, right? Thankfully, it is. Some of it anyway, depending on the type of animals and pets you keep around. Here’s what you should watch out for:
Animal/Pet Waste |
Compostable? |
Brown vs Green |
Other Considerations |
Chicken manure |
✔ |
Green |
See this article for more details |
Feces from herbivorous pets |
✔ |
Green |
Pets like hamsters, gerbils, and rabbits |
Bedding from herbivorous pet cage |
✔ |
Green |
|
Horse manure |
✔ |
Green |
|
Cow manure |
✔ |
Green |
|
Goat manure |
✔ |
Green |
|
Cat Litter |
✔ |
Green |
See this article for more details |
Animal fur |
✔ |
Brown |
|
Alfalfa hay |
✔ |
Brown |
|
Dry dog or cat food |
✔ |
Brown |
|
Feathers |
✔ |
Brown |
|
Dead animals |
𝗫 |
N/A |
|
Manure from sick animals |
𝗫 |
N/A |
Can pass on bacteria and viruses |
Cat feces |
𝗫 |
N/A |
Can pass on parasites and pathogens |
Dog feces |
𝗫 |
N/A |
Can pass on parasites and pathogens |
You pretty much just want to steer clear of animal feces from carnivorous and omnivorous animals, such as cats and dogs. Unlike herbivores, these animals can easily pass on parasites and pathogens through their waste, which we don’t want getting into our plants later.
What yard and garden waste can be composted?
Your backyard is a veritable treasure trove of compostable materials. The most common compostable yard waste you'll find is dead leaves and twigs. Of course, most of that organic matter is going to be in much larger pieces than your compost pile will be able to really handle.
When it comes to the organic waste you get from your yard, the first step will almost always be to shred or cut it up. You can get specific tools and devices for grinding and cutting up your yard waste if you want to make that easier.
There are, of course, going to be some things from your yard and garden that you'll still want to avoid composting. Here's what to compost from your yard waste:
Yard Item |
Compostable? |
Brown vs Green |
Other Considerations |
Grass clippings |
✔ |
Green |
See this article for more details |
Flowers |
✔ |
Green |
See this article for more details |
Clippings from houseplants |
✔ |
Green |
|
Pine needles |
✔ |
Brown |
Use in limited quantities |
Twigs |
✔ |
Brown |
Shred first |
Rope |
✔ |
Brown |
Cut up first |
Twine |
✔ |
Brown |
|
Dead plants |
✔ |
Brown |
|
Soil from houseplants |
✔ |
Brown |
|
Sawdust from untreated wood |
✔ |
Brown |
|
Dead leaves |
✔ |
Brown |
|
Chemical pesticide-treated yard trimmings |
𝗫 |
N/A |
Can kill beneficial composting organisms |
Black walnut tree leaves or twigs |
𝗫 |
N/A |
Releases substances that are harmful to plants |
Diseased plants |
𝗫 |
N/A |
Can pass on diseases |
Naturally toxic plants |
𝗫 |
N/A |
|
Big branches |
𝗫 |
N/A |
Too large to break down, but can be composted if completely shredded |
Tomato fruit |
𝗫 |
N/A |
Can sprout in the compost |
Synthetic fertilizer |
𝗫 |
N/A |
Can kill microorganisms in compost |
Much of what you can't compost will be because of chemicals and organisms entering your compost bin that you wouldn't want to transfer to your plants after. Diseased plants, for example, will compost just fine, but you wouldn't those diseases to survive the composting process and infect the plants you're trying to grow. On the other hand, chemically-treated plants could end up hurting the good microorganisms that complete the composting process.
Creating a balanced compost: get your carbon to nitrogen ratio right!
The composting process requires a good mix of carbon and nitrogen to properly decompose. Otherwise, you're either going to end up with a soupy mess or a compost pile that just isn't composting at all. Carbon rich material is referred to as brown material, while nitrogen-rich materials are referred to as green waste.
Brown waste is going to be the dry and generally non-food waste. Green waste, on the other hand, is wet and generally food waste. However, there are some exceptions. Here are a few examples of the different waste to give you an idea:
With a backyard compost bin, you generally want to aim for equal amounts of brown and green waste. Too much of one or the other can result in unsatisfactory pre-compost. The ratio you're looking for can change with the method of composting you're doing, though.
Of course, with Lomi, you don't have to worry at all about whether you're even including any brown or green waste. You can just put whatever organic waste you have, which is compostable, into your Lomi. This is a much easier and faster method of composting than any traditional method. Although it’s important to keep in mind that Lomi’s nutrient-rich dirt isn’t an exact comparison to traditional pre-compost, as the process is different. You’ll want to choose the composting method that aligns with the effort you can put in and your end goals.
7 FAQs on composting and compostable items
While we've listed out the most expected potential compostables to help you out, there might be some specifics that are more confusing. Here are some common questions about what not to put in the compost:
1. What foods are not compostable?
Most foods will be compostable, even more so with Lomi. You can't traditionally compost meat or dairy products, as that would risk attracting pests and transferring unwanted bacteria. You also need to be conservative with the acidic food you're composting, as they can make your pre-compost too acidic.
Aside from that, you should also keep in mind the kitchen scraps that will take too long to compost compared to the rest of the organic material. Kitchen scraps in this category would be scraps like bones and fruit pits.
2. Can rotten food be composted?
This actually depends on what you consider to be rotten. Rotting is generally the start of the decomposition process, which is what you're looking for in compost anyway. Moldy fruit and vegetable scraps are also completely safe to compost. The only rotting you should really be worried about is diseased food.
You want to avoid composting diseased food for the same reason you want to avoid composting diseased plants.
3. Are bioplastics compostable?
Lomi is actually a great alternative for home composting because of how easy and convenient it is to use. Not only is it effortless, but it’s also much faster than traditional composting. Instead of waiting months for compost, you can get nutrient-rich dirt in less than a day! With Lomi, you’re also able to break down some waste you wouldn’t be able to compost traditionally, such as approved bioplastics.
Check out this article to learn more about what Lomi can and cannot process.
4. Is greenware compostable?
Fabri-Kal's greenware products are advertised as compostable, but is that true? In short, it is. The catch is that they're only compostable in industrial facilities. Unfortunately, a home compost pile can't quite reach the same heat and conditions necessary to compost greenware products that an industrial facility can.
5. What plants not to compost?
There are a few occasions where you'd want to avoid putting plants in the compost bin. For one, you should avoid putting weeds that aren't dead in your bin, as you could add weed seeds to your compost pile. Weed seeds that aren't killed during the compost process could then grow in your compost or garden beds.
You also really want to avoid composting diseased plants or insect-ridden plants. Your compost pile may not get hot enough for long enough to kill the disease or insects. In that case, they could be transferred to your garden beds, which nobody wants.
6. Why can't dog poop be composted?
Whether or not you can compost dog poop, or any pet waste, actually depends on what you intend to use that compost for. Because of the bacteria that would end up in the compost, it wouldn't be safe to use the finished compost in a vegetable garden. However, you could use that pre-compost for plants you won't consume.
7. Can you plant directly into compost?
You can grow your plants directly in compost, but we wouldn't advise it. It doesn't work nearly as well as planting in a mix of compost and soil. Compost provides nutrients to plants that soil is lacking, but the same is true the other way around. Plants grown directly in compost also won't be as stable.
Written by: Sereana Simpson