Choosing What to Compost
Do Compost
Nitrogen
- Barnyard manure
- Coffee grounds
- Flowers
- Fruit & vegetable trimmings
- Grass clippings
- Green leaves
- Sod
- Weeds
Carbon
- Ash - small amounts
- Bread
- Coffee filters
- Dry leaves
- Eggshells
- Hair
- Lint
- Paper with no ink,small amounts
- Sawdust
- Straw
- Tea leaves with bags
- Wood shavings
Do Not Compost
- Bones
- Butter
- Cat litter
- Cheese
- Chicken
- Diapers
- Diseased plants
- Dog or cat feces
- Fish
- Greasy foods
- Invasive weeds
- Lard
- Meat
- Milk products
- Oils
- Peanut butter
- Salad dressing
- Sour cream
- Unchopped woodywaste
- Vegetable oil
As a rule of thumb, avoid any substance or material that could be harmful to you or to the decomposer organisms. Always avoid wood and other yard waste materials treated with chemicals. If you are unsure of an item, it is always better to err on the side of safety and not add it. Check with your local jurisdiction if you have any questions.
There is no single "right" compost technique. There are several variations based upon some basic principles of aerobic decomposition. The technique you start with may be modified as you gain experience. Keep it simple, convenient, and suited to your lifestyle.