When many people think about composting, they mostly think about veggie scraps. But there are SO many other things you can compost! I hope this list of 50+ things you can compost gives you some ideas!
If you’re brand new to composting, I wrote a post all about how to start your own backyard compost pile!
There are so many reasons why you should start a compost pile!
- Reduce your waste
- Create compost for your gardens
- Learn how nature naturally breaks things down
- It’s fun watching your waste turn into valuable soil!
Every composter has their own preferences, and that’s ok! It depends on factors such as the space you have available, how much smell you’re willing to put up with, and if animals sniffing your compost pile is a problem.
You’ll want your compost pile to be a mixture of GREEN (living, wet) things and BROWN (dead, dry) things.
At least 2-3x more brown materials are recommended, but some compost experts recommend a 30:1 brown to green ratio! So err on the side of more browns, especially if your compost pile is getting stinky.
Before you start composting, I recommend a compost bin for your kitchen counters! This is the one I have and love!
GREENS TO ADD TO YOUR COMPOST PILE
Green materials are things that are alive and often green (not always). They are full of nitrogen and often contain lots of moisture. Greens break down much quicker than browns! These are the green things you can compost!
- Carrot / Potato Peels
- Veggie Scraps
- Vegetables that aren’t suitable for eating
- Banana Peels
- Apple Cores
- Avocado Pit
- Melon Rinds
- Coffee Filters
- Coffee Grounds
- Tea Bags (No Plastic)
- Plant milks
- Egg Shells
- Loose Leaf Tea
- Food Crumbs
- Grass Clippings (Not sprayed)
- Weeds
- Yard Waste
- Flowers
- Halloween Pumpkins
- Seaweed
- Cooked Plain Rice
- Cooked Plain Pasta
- Corn Cobs
BROWNS TO ADD TO YOUR COMPOST PILE
Brown compost materials are non-living materials. They are full of carbon and break down much slower than Greens.
- Dirt
- Dry Leaves (Live leaves are also ok, but would be a green material!)
- Twigs
- Paper Egg Cartons
- Paper Towel
- Kleenex / Napkins
- Newspapers (Not Glossy)
- Plain Cardboard
- Straw
- Hay
- Mulch
- Pet Fur
- Human Hair (cut into small pieces is best)
- Chicken, Rabbit Poop
- Bedding from Small Pets (Rabbits, Guinea Pigs, etc)
- Horse / Cow Manure
- Toothpicks
- Pine Cones
- Pine Needles
- Feathers
- Cardboard Pizza Boxes
- Toilet Paper Rolls
- “Dust Bunnies”
- Used Matches
- Paper Bags
THINGS TO COMPOST WITH CAUTION
All of the following things WILL technically decompose, but they may cause problems in your compost pile. Each individual composter has their own preference with many of these items.
- Onion / Garlic Peels – Some people say they can kill the good “bugs” in your soil, while others have success composting them!
- Paper / Cardboard – Make sure that any paper / Cardboard thrown in your compost doesn’t have excessive dyes, glossy photos or tape!
- Sawdust – Sawdust from untreated wood is safe for your compost pile, but treated sawdust will not decompose!
- Dryer Lint – Make sure you are using a biodegradable and non-toxic laundry detergent and fabric softener, otherwise your dryer lint will cause problems in your compost pile.
- Bread / Baked goods – Modern day bread is made to last many months before it goes moldy which means it will take a long time to break down in your compost pile. I make my own sourdough bread with no added preservatives so I don’t worry about a few scraps in my compost bin.
- Contents of Vacuum – If you’re just vacuuming up pet hair, dirt and dust, you can empty it in the compost! But make sure there are no non-biodegradeable items mixed in.
- Yard Waste – Most yard waste is perfectly safe to add to your compost pile! But if you’ve sprayed your lawn or garden with harmful chemicals, it’s best to keep those away from the compost. Also don’t add any obviously diseased plant waste!
THINGS YOU SHOULDN’T COMPOST
Again, all of these items should technically decompose. But they can potentially bring disease to your compost pile, or attract animals like coyotes, racoons, rats, neighbourhood dogs, birds, etc.
Most industrial composting facilities will accept these items, but they’re best avoided for the common backyard composter.
- Dog / Cat Poop – Pet feces can carry diseases like E-coli and Salmonella and are best left out of your compost pile.
- Meat / Bones – Any meat products will cause your compost pile to be very stinky and possibly attract animals!
- Dairy – Dairy will also cause a stinky compost pile as well as attract animals.
- Oils – Since oils are shelf stable for years, they won’t break down in your compost pile.
- Leftovers – Leftovers usually consist of meat, dairy and/or oils, so it isn’t a good idea to throw them in the compost pile.
I hope this helped you maximize the things you can compost! Be sure to pin this for later!
