The Best Materials to Toss in Compost Bin

THINGS THAT SHOULD BE COMPOSTED...

Green Materials

– Fruit and vegetable scraps – Fresh grass clippings – Plant materials (indoor and outdoor) – Coffee grounds – Coffee filters – Tea leaves/natural tea bags – Fresh green leaves – Stale bread – Chicken manure – Rabbit manure

Brown Materials

– Dry leaves – Pine needles – Egg shells – Nut shells – Wood ash – Sawdust – Hay/straw – Small twigs – Wood chips – Dried plant stalks – Newspaper* – Cardboard* – Non-glossy paper* – Brown paper bags* – Toilet paper and paper towel rolls* – Paper napkins

THINGS THAT SHOULD ONLY BE COMPOSTED IN SMALL QUANTITIES

– citrus peels – garlic pieces – onion pieces

THINGS THAT SHOULD NOT GO IN A COMPOST BIN

– Meats – Bones – Oils and fats – Dairy products – Produce stickers – “Compostable” bags and utensils* – Yard waste that contains weed seeds – Glossy paper – Pet waste (dog and cat) – Diseased plant parts – Tape from cardboard boxes

BALANCING GREEN MATERIALS AND BROWN MATERIALS

Your main goal will be to toss a good mix of green materials (nitrogen-rich things) and brown materials (carbon-rich things) into your bin. The ideal ratio of green to brown is 1 to 4.

LEARN MORE ABOUT The best materials to compost, along with a FREE printable chart on what compost and common composting FAQ's by swiping up below.