What You Can Compost List

Things You Can Put In a Compost

Keep your food scraps and yard wastes to create nutrient-rich soil for your garden by creating a compost. Composted materials help make your soil better for growing food.

What is compost?

Compost is organic materials that have broken down.

The break down of the organic matter forms a soil amendment called humus.

Humus is a nutrient-rich material.

What is compost used for?

Compost is used to add nutrients to garden soil as a natural fertilizer.

It’s also added to soil to increase its condition by making it easier to work with and plant in.

Compost also increases the soil’s ability to hold water when it is added to the soil.

Benefits Of Composting

Reduces the need for chemical fertilizers
Suppresses plant diseases and pests
Encourages the growth of beneficial bacteria and fungi
Reduces methane emissions from landfills
Lowers your carbon footprint
One application of compost can have a positive effect on plant growth for up to 8 years

List Of Things You Can Put In A Compost

Kitchen Waste

fruit and vegetables
egg shells (crushed)
stale bread
cereal
tea and coffee grounds
nut shells

Yard and Garden Waste

plant trimmings
grass clippings
sawdust (not pine or cedar)
wood ash (excellent source of potassium, thin layers)
leaves
small twigs
pine cones
pine needles
hay
straw
wood chips

Bathroom Waste

hair
nails
toilet paper rolls
cotton balls
dryer lint

Home Waste

shredded newspaper (black and white)
cardboard
paper
houseplants
old potting soil

Things You Can’t Compost

Meats

meat
bones
fish

Fatty Foods

fats
grease
lard
oils
salad dressing

Dairy Products

butter
milk
sour cream
yogurt
eggs

Pet Waste

dog feces
cat feces
kitty litter

Yard Waste

black walnut tree leaves or twigs (these are harmful to other plants)
diseased or insect-ridden plants (insects and diseases can be transferred to other plants)
yard trimmings treated with chemical pesticides (these can kill organisms beneficial for composting)
barbecue ashes or coals
pine or cedar sawdust
weeds with seed heads or persistent roots (quack grass)
herbicide/pesticide treated plant materials
rhubarb leaves

Household Wastes

metals
plastics
colored paper
medication
human feces
urine

Final Thoughts On Composting

Composting will help improve your soil’s condition by adding nutrients and increasing its ability to hold water.

You can add your kitchen scraps, yard wastes, and other household wastes.