If you’re new to composting, you might be wondering, what can I compost? Understanding what can and can’t go into your compost bin is crucial for creating healthy, nutrient-rich soil while reducing waste.
In this quick guide, we’ll answer the question, “what can I compost?” and help you get started with composting easily. Whether you’re looking to improve your garden or contribute to sustainability, this guide covers everything you need to know about composting the right materials.
What Can You Compost?
Composting is a sustainable way to recycle organic waste and create nutrient-rich soil for gardening. Here’s a breakdown of what you can compost:
1. Fruit and Vegetable Scraps

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Examples
- Banana peels
- Apple cores
- Potato skins
- Citrus peels
- Avocado pits
- Carrot tops
- Other leftover fruit or vegetable scraps
Why Compostable
Fruit and vegetable scraps are rich in nutrients like potassium, phosphorus, and nitrogen, which help create a fertile compost. These scraps break down quickly, promoting healthy microbial activity in your compost pile.
Citrus peels, while slightly slower to decompose, are still compostable and offer essential acidity that balances the compost’s pH. Moreover, they attract beneficial insects that aid the decomposition process, turning them into valuable humus for your garden soil.
2. Coffee Grounds and Filters

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Examples
- Used coffee grounds
- Paper coffee filters (unbleached and free from chemicals)
Why Compostable
Coffee grounds are a fantastic nitrogen source, a crucial component for a balanced compost. Adding coffee grounds helps to create a heat-rich environment that accelerates the breakdown of other organic materials in your compost pile.
Coffee filters are also compostable, provided they are free from bleach or synthetic chemicals. They break down slowly but provide carbon, helping balance the compost’s nitrogen content. When combined with fruit scraps, coffee grounds support microbial health and accelerate decomposition.
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3. Eggshells

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Eggshells are a rich source of calcium, which is essential for plant growth. As they break down slowly, they provide long-lasting benefits to your compost pile. Eggshells also help to improve soil structure, preventing soil compaction and promoting healthy root development in plants.
While they may take a while to decompose, they’re still valuable in composting for their mineral content. To speed up the decomposition process, consider crushing the eggshells before adding them to your compost bin.
4. Yard Waste

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Examples
- Grass clippings
- Leaves
- Small branches
- Twigs
- Flowers
- Garden trimmings
Why Compostable
Yard waste, such as grass clippings and fallen leaves, is an excellent source of carbon, a critical ingredient in a successful compost pile. Grass clippings decompose quickly, providing nitrogen to balance the carbon-rich materials like dry leaves and woody twigs.
Leaves, in particular, are rich in carbon and break down over time, adding valuable organic matter to the compost. Small twigs and branches contribute to the compost’s texture, improving aeration and drainage as they decompose.
5. Nut Shells

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Examples
- Peanut shells
- Walnut shells
- Almond shells
- Other types of nut shells
Why Compostable
Nut shells are a valuable source of carbon, which balances the nitrogen content in your compost. They decompose slowly, so they should be added in moderation to avoid overly dense compost that is slow to break down.
Though they take a longer time to decompose, nut shells help maintain the compost’s structure, allowing for proper airflow and moisture retention. Peanut shells, in particular, break down relatively easily compared to other harder nut shells.
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6. Paper Products
Examples
- Shredded paper
- Napkins
- Paper towels
- Cardboard (uncoated)
- Newspaper (non-glossy)
Why Compostable
Paper products made from wood pulp, like shredded paper, cardboard, and napkins, are ideal for composting. They are primarily carbon-based, which helps balance the nitrogen content in your compost pile. Avoid glossy or heavily inked paper, as the inks can contain harmful chemicals.
When composted, these paper products break down into organic matter that enriches the compost and improves soil texture. Cardboard, in particular, can help break up the structure of dense compost, preventing clumping and ensuring proper aeration.
7. Grass Clippings

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Grass clippings are high in nitrogen, an essential nutrient for the composting process. Adding grass clippings to your compost pile helps speed up decomposition, promoting the growth of microorganisms that break down organic matter.
Fresh clippings are best added in thin layers to avoid clumping, which can create a soggy, smelly compost pile. Grass clippings are particularly useful in spring and summer, when the compost pile may need more nitrogen to balance the carbon-heavy materials like leaves and straw.
8. Hair and Fur
Examples
- Human hair
- Pet fur
- Animal hair from grooming
Why Compostable
Hair and fur are rich in nitrogen, which is an important component for building healthy compost. While hair and fur break down slowly, they help promote microbial growth in your compost.
They also provide an excellent way to recycle natural waste from your home or pets. However, avoid adding synthetic fibers or treated fur, as they will not decompose efficiently and could harm the composting process.
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9. Plant-Based Food Scraps
Examples
- Leftover pasta
- Rice
- Bread
- Cereal
- Grains (as long as they are not processed with dairy or meat)
Why Compostable
Plant-based food scraps, such as pasta, rice, bread, and cereal, can add valuable organic matter to your compost pile. These items are rich in starches and carbohydrates that decompose easily, contributing to the overall richness of the compost.
When adding plant-based food scraps, make sure they are free from oils, dairy, and meat, as these can attract pests and disrupt the composting process. By composting plant-based food, you recycle nutrients back into the soil, enriching it for future plant growth.
10. Houseplants and Flowers
Dead or dying houseplants, as well as wilted flowers, are excellent compost materials. They decompose quickly and provide organic matter that enriches your compost. Houseplant soil can also be added, as long as it is free from synthetic chemicals or pesticides.
These plant materials are rich in nitrogen and other nutrients that help create fertile compost. Additionally, composting houseplants and flowers helps reduce waste and prevents them from ending up in landfills.
What Not to Compost?
When composting, it’s important to avoid adding certain items that can cause problems for your compost pile or bin. Here are common materials not to compost:
1. Meat, Fish, and Poultry

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Meat, fish, and poultry are not suitable for composting because they decompose slowly and can create foul odors. They attract scavengers, pests (like rodents and flies), and may introduce harmful bacteria into your compost.
These items are high in fat and proteins, which do not break down well in a typical compost pile and can cause imbalances in your compost’s nitrogen-carbon ratio.
2. Dairy Products
Dairy products, such as cheese, milk, butter, and yogurt, should be avoided in composting because they spoil quickly, produce strong odors, and attract unwanted pests.
Like meat, dairy products are high in fats, which do not decompose efficiently in a composting environment and can create a greasy mess that is difficult to break down.
3. Oils and Grease
Oils, grease, and fats, whether from cooking or other sources, do not break down well in compost and can create a slimy, greasy layer that disrupts the balance of your compost.
These materials can smother microorganisms that are necessary for decomposition and create anaerobic conditions (without oxygen) that result in unpleasant odors and slow composting.
4. Diseased Plants

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If your plants are diseased, composting them can spread harmful pathogens and diseases to other plants in your garden. These diseases might survive the composting process and be transferred to your plants once the compost is applied.
It’s best to dispose of diseased plants in the trash or through municipal green waste programs that can handle them properly.
5. Weeds with Seeds or Roots
Weeds that have mature seeds or deep roots should not be composted, as these seeds can survive the composting process and sprout in your garden.
Even if your compost reaches high temperatures, some weed seeds can remain viable. To avoid this issue, remove weeds before they flower and dispose of them in a way that ensures the seeds don’t spread.
6. Pet Waste (Dog and Cat Feces)
Dog and cat feces are not recommended for composting, as they may contain harmful pathogens such as parasites and bacteria that are dangerous to humans.
Pet waste can introduce these pathogens into your compost, and since it often comes from carnivorous animals, it can also create imbalances in the nitrogen-carbon ratio of your compost pile. It’s better to dispose of pet waste in a designated pet waste disposal system.
7. Synthetic Materials
Examples
- Plastic
- Glass
- Metal
- Rubber
- Other non-biodegradable materials.
Why Not to Compost
Synthetic materials such as plastic bags, food wrappers, or anything made from rubber or metal do not break down in the composting process.
These materials can contaminate the compost and reduce its quality, making it unsuitable for garden use. Always ensure that the materials you add to the compost are natural and biodegradable.
8. Coal and Charcoal Ash

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Ash from coal and charcoal can be harmful to your compost because it contains heavy metals and chemicals that may not break down or may leach into the soil.
While wood ash can be composted in small amounts as it is rich in potassium and other minerals, coal and charcoal ash should be avoided to prevent introducing harmful substances into your compost.
9. Unbleached Paper with Heavy Ink or Chemicals
While unbleached paper and cardboard are generally compostable, paper that has been printed with heavy inks, glossy coatings, or other chemicals should be avoided.
The inks and chemicals can contain toxins or substances that slow down decomposition. Stick to plain, uncoated paper, napkins, and newspapers that have minimal printing.
10. Large Branches or Logs
While small twigs and leaves break down easily, large branches and logs can take years to decompose in a compost pile. They require more time and space than typical compost piles can accommodate and can create an imbalanced pile with insufficient airflow.
If you have large branches or logs, consider chipping them into smaller pieces or creating a separate compost system, such as a woodpile or a specialized composting method for larger materials.
11. Invasive Plants
Invasive plant species, such as bamboo or mint, should not be composted unless you are sure that the compost pile will reach temperatures high enough to kill their seeds and roots.
These plants can spread aggressively in your garden if they survive the composting process, and composting them could make the problem worse.
12. Glossy Magazines and Colored Paper
Glossy magazines, colored paper, and high-gloss brochures are often printed with toxic inks and chemicals that can contaminate your compost.
These papers are not biodegradable in the same way as plain paper and can harm the ecosystem of your compost. Stick to simple, uncoated paper products for composting instead.
13. Treated Wood or Lumber
Wood that has been treated with preservatives, paints, or stains should not be added to your compost, as these chemicals can be harmful to the environment and slow down the composting process. Only untreated wood should be composted, as it is more likely to break down naturally and safely.
The Bottomline
In conclusion, understanding what can I compost is essential for starting your composting journey and achieving great results. By focusing on the right materials—like food scraps, yard waste, and paper products—you can reduce waste, improve soil quality, and support a more sustainable lifestyle.
Avoid non-compostable items, maintain a balance of greens and browns, and monitor your compost pile for optimal results. Now that you know what can I compost, you’re ready to turn everyday waste into nutrient-rich compost for your garden.
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