What to Compost

List of Compostable Items


  • Cold Wood Ashes (in Moderation)
  • Cotton Clothing/Fabric (Cut or Ripped Small); Plus Some Other Natural Fibers
  • Dryer Lint (If no Dryer Sheets Were Used)
  • Grass - in Moderation (Pesticide Free)
  • Hair
  • Hay
  • Leaves - Especially Dead Dried Ones
  • Manure (From Vegetarian Animals)
  • Non-Invasive Weeds (Herbicide Free)
  • Non-Meat Food Scraps, Especially:
    • Coffee Grounds W/or Wo/Filters - in Moderation
    • Crushed Egg Shells
    • Expired Food or Food That Has Gone Bad
    • Non-Meat Plate Scrapings
    • Old Grains / Bread
    • Tea Leaves W/or Wo/Bags
    • Vegetable and Fruit (Stems, Peels, Trimmings, Innards, Ends...)
  • Nuts and Shells (Except Black Walnuts)
  • Old Luffas
  • Peanuts and Peanut Shells
  • Pine Needles (in Moderation)
  • Pinecones
  • Small Amounts of Paper, Paperboard and Thin Brown Cardboard (Shredded) I.E.
    • Cereal Boxes
    • Egg Cartons (the Paperboard Kind)
    • Low Chemical Paper
    • Napkins and Paper Towels
    • Newspaper
    • Tissue Paper
  • Small Pet Waste (Non-Cat, Non-Dog)
    • Droppings
    • Food
    • Paper Litter (Unscented, Natural Color)
  • Small Twigs
  • Water
  • Wood Shavings or Sawdust (From Non-Chemically Treated Wood and Non-Particle Board) - in Moderation
  • Worms

List of Non-Compostable Items


  • Body Fluids
  • Bones
  • Cleaners
  • Dairy (Though Crushed Egg Shells Are Great)
  • Diseased Plants
  • Dog Droppings
  • Grease and Oil
  • Inorganics
  • Insecticides, Pesticides, Herbicides, Any "icides" (the Suffix -icide Means to Kill, Which is Counter to the Goal)
  • Invasive Weeds
  • Kitty Litter
  • Magazines
  • Meat
  • Medications (Excepting Some Natural, Expired Vitamins)