100 Things You Can & Can’t Compost: List of Compostable Items

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Composting turns everyday scraps into nutrient-rich soil — and it’s easier than you think.

Whether you’re working with a backyard pile, a tumbler, or an apartment worm bin, the most common question is always:

 “What can I compost?”

This guide answers that — it gives you a list of compostable items, with detailed categories, helpful notes, and clear do’s and don’ts. Let’s break it down. (Pun intended.)

✅ GREEN MATERIALS – Nitrogen-rich & “wet”

These materials provide proteins and moisture for microbial activity. Too many = a smelly pile, so balance with “browns.”

🥕 Food scraps

• Fruit scraps – Apple cores, banana peels, citrus, berries, grapes
• Vegetable scraps – Carrot tops, broccoli stalks, potato peels
• Citrus peels – Okay in moderation
• Onion, garlic, leek skins, and ends – Fine unless in worm bins
• Corn cobs and husks – Chop up for faster breakdown
• Pumpkin/gourd shells
• Avocado pits – very slow; best if ground or chopped

🥖 Pantry leftovers

• Stale bread, crackers, cereal
• Cooked plain rice/pasta – small amounts
• Old flour, oats, baking mixes
• Old protein powder
• Tofu and tempeh – Small amounts only; compost faster when broken up
• Cooked and dry beans – Great source of nitrogen; mix well with browns
• Expired dry grains and legumes – lentils, quinoa, etc.
• Popcorn and unpopped kernels – Fine if plain and unbuttered; break up hard kernels
• Granola bars – Only if natural and unwrapped; avoid those with chocolate or preservatives
• Cake – Small amounts; bury deep to deter pests
• Nuts and seeds – Fine raw or roasted (unsalted); avoid seasoned or chocolate-covered ones
• Jams and jelly – Use in small amounts; high sugar content can attract pests
• Dehydrated/frozen/canned fruits – Okay once thawed or rehydrated; avoid syrup-packed versions
• Seaweed – Excellent nitrogen source and trace minerals; rinse off salt first
  Sauces & dips – Okay in small amounts if oil-free and plant-based; avoid dairy-heavy or mayo-based dips
• Sourdough discard, kombucha scobies (fermentation byproducts) – Full of microbes; great for compost

☕ Kitchen extras

• Coffee grounds + paper filters
• Tea leaves + bags – Make sure they’re not plastic mesh
• Nutshells – Peanuts, pistachios, etc.; avoid salty or flavored ones
• Eggshells – Crushed for a better breakdown
• Herbs and spices – Small amounts
• Alcoholic drinks – Small amounts; yeasts help decomposition but don’t overdo it
  

🌿 Garden & houseplant waste

• Dead houseplants – No disease
• Spent flowers, prunings
• Green plant trimmings and leaves
• Weeds that haven’t gone to seed
• Algae from aquariums – Non-saltwater
  

🐶 Pet-safe greens

• Fur from brushing pets
• Human or pet hair – No dyed hair, break up clumps
• Feathers – Natural, clean only
• Nail clippings
  

✅ BROWN MATERIALS – Carbon-rich & “dry”

Browns absorb moisture and provide structure. Too few = soggy pile. Use 2–3x more browns than greens.

📦 Paper & cardboard

• Paper towels and napkins – Non-greasy
• Toilet paper and paper towel rolls
• Newspaper – Black and white prints
• Shredded office paper – No gloss or plastic windows
• Uncoated cardboard – Cereal boxes, shipping boxes
• Egg cartons – Paper pulp kind
• Paper grocery bags – Shred and remove handles; great dry carbon source
  

🌳 Wood products

• Sawdust and wood shavings – From untreated wood only
• Wooden toothpicks, popsicle sticks – Plain only
• Chopsticks – Wood or bamboo, break into smaller pieces
• Pencil shavings – Graphite is carbon! Watch for lacquer/paint
• Wine corks – Real cork only; synthetic ones won’t compost
  

🍂 Yard waste

• Dry leaves – Crunchy and brown = perfect
• Twigs and small branches, chopped
• Pine needles – slow to break down, acidic; use sparingly
• Straw and hay – Excellent carbon source
• Dried grass clippings – Green if fresh, brown if dried
  

🤔 USE WITH CAUTION

These items can be composted under the right conditions, but often cause issues if mishandled.

🍕 Greasy or spicy

• Greasy pizza boxes – Small amounts, torn up, only if uncoated
• Baked goods or pastry scraps – Bury deep or omit
• Nut butters and oils – Very slow, attract pests
• Chocolate (plain, dark) – Small bits okay; avoid sugary, dairy, or filled types. Attracts pests in large amounts
• Spicy foods – They irritate worms; avoid in worm bins but okay in regular compost in small amounts

🥩 Animal products

Avoid in open piles – OK in hot or bokashi compost systems:

• Meat and bones – Can rot and attract pests
• Dairy – Cheese, yogurt, butter
• Seafood shells – Clean well
• Egg yolks/whites – in small amounts only
  

🧼 Cleaners, colored or treated materials

• Moldy food – It can be composted but add it gradually mixed with browns
• Dryer lint – Only if clothes are 100% natural fibers
• Vacuum dust – Usually contains synthetic carpet fibers
• Fabric like cotton, linen, wool – OK if cut small, untreated
• Tissue – OK unless used for anything gross or synthetic makeup
• Colored inks on cardboard or boxes – Usually okay, but not neon or metallic
  

❌ DO NOT COMPOST

These contaminate your soil, attract pests, or introduce toxins.

🛢️ Toxic or non-biodegradable

• Plastics – Any kind; even “bioplastics” unless certified home compostable
• Stickers on produce
• Synthetic tea bags – Often in plastic mesh
• Cleaning wipes or dryer sheets
• Wax paper – Unless labeled compostable
• Glossy magazines or photos
• Receipts – BPA-coated
• Shiny/glossy paper – Plastic coating
• Chewing gum – Contains synthetic rubber; doesn’t break down
• Lotion, shampoo, conditioner, body wash – Often full of synthetic chemicals; can harm compost microbes
• Cosmetics – Includes microplastics, dyes, and fragrances; not compostable
  

🧪 Chemical-laden items

• Charcoal ash – May contain toxins
• Treated/painted wood
• Diseased plants or pest-infested clippings
• PFAS-treated containers – Grease-resistant boxes, many takeout boxes
• Non-organic citrus peels – Can contain fungicides that kill beneficial fungi and microbes; rinse first
• Paper towels mixed with cleaning spray –  the chemicals could harm compost microbes (only doable if a cleaner is natural, like vinegar or castile soap)
  

💩 Pet & human waste

• Cat or dog poop
• Kitty litter – Clay or clumping types are NOT compostable
• Diapers – Even “biodegradable” ones; take years
• Human waste or sewage sludge – Unless composting toilet system

🧪 Pro compost tips

• Ideal ratio: 2–3 parts browns to 1 part greens
• Mix well to prevent clumps and rot
• Keep moist like a wrung-out sponge
• Turn or aerate your pile every 1–2 weeks
• No turning? Use layers, and add bulky browns for airflow
• A hot pile (130–160°F) kills weed seeds and pathogens
• Use a compost thermometer to check
• Using worms? Avoid onions, citrus, garlic, spicy scraps, and greasy items
• Your compost smell bad? Usually too wet or too much green material; add browns and turn it. Here’s a list of 9 common compost problems & easy fixes

Get the free infographic!

Get a free infographic that contains the three lists – 1) COMPOST, 2) COMPOST WITH CAUTION and 3) DO NOT COMPOST. It’s a free exclusive resource for all the members of Almost Zero Waste Hub! To join, click here.

Final thoughts

Composting is a journey, not a perfect science. Every scrap counts, and every mistake is a chance to learn. What’s your go-to compost tip or tricky item? Drop it in the comments – I’d love to hear!

Want to dive deeper into composting?

Explore these guides to master your compost game:

• 6 Pros & Cons Of Composting — Weigh the benefits and disadvantages of composting & make an informed, sustainable choice for your home.
• Apartment Composting: 5 Easy Methods — Composting made simple even in small spaces.
• 9 Common Compost Problems & Easy Fixes — Troubleshoot your pile like a pro.
• Composting Basics & Terms To Know Before You Start — Perfect for beginners.
• 8 Best Compost Bins For (Small) Apartments — Find the ideal bin for your space.

Happy composting!