What to Compost: A Simple Guide to Compostable Household Item
Composting is one of the easiest ways to reduce household waste and give nutrients back to the earth. But many people aren’t sure what can and can’t be composted. This guide explains what to compost, what to avoid, and simple tips to help you start composting at home with confidence.
There are two distinct types of composting materials and they are referred to as “Greens” and “Browns”. Browns are the carbon-rich materials and Greens are the nitrogen-rich materials. Your compost pile needs to have a ratio of 2-3 parts Browns to 1 part Greens. If the ratio is off with too much Greens then the breakdown of the pile will be slow, alternatively, too much Browns will cause odor.
Let’s discuss Browns first, the primary job of the Browns is to be a food source for the soil-dwelling organisms that work with the microbes to break down the materials in your compost pile. They also add bulk to and allow air to circulate through the compost pile.
Browns would include:
Fall leaves
Pine needles
Twigs, tree branches/bark but nothing too big (chipped wood is good)
Straw or hay
Sawdust
Corn stalks
Paper (newspaper, writing/printing paper, paper plates and napkins, coffee filters but nothing with a glossy coating on it)
Plain Corrugated cardboard
Kosmatology mailers
Greens are the materials that are rich in nitrogen or protein. They tend to heat up a compost pile because they help the microorganisms grow and multiply quickly. Greens consist mostly of wet or recently growing plants. Greens are usually green or came from a plant that was green at one time. There are exceptions to this rule, such as egg shells.
Greens would include:
Grass clippings
Coffee grounds/tea bags
Vegetable and fruit scraps
Trimmings from plants
Annual weeds that haven't gone to seed
Eggshells (crush first)
Follow these rules, make sure your ratios are correct and watch your pile… decompose! We wish you success in your endeavors to help the Earth and hope we have inspired you to give composting a try! If you have any questions or comments, please leave them below!