Compost Materials List (Handy Chart with Useful Tips)

The composting process is an excellent way to reduce food/yard waste and create a valuable resource for plants and gardens. However, not all materials are suitable for composting. To help you compost effectively, we have created a compost materials chart that categorizes various composting materials based on their compostability, whether they are green or brown materials, and provides useful tips for composting.
Whether you are an experienced composter or just starting, this chart will be a helpful guide to ensure that you are composting the right materials in the right way.
Composting Materials | Compostable? | Green/Brown | Composting Tips |
---|---|---|---|
Vegetable and fruit scraps | Yes | Green | Citrus fruits and onions are best avoided for composting due to their acidic nature and ability to attract pests, respectively. Chop or shred to accelerate decomposition. |
Coffee grounds and filters | Yes | Green | They should be balanced with carbon-rich materials like leaves or shredded paper. |
Tea bags | Yes | Green | Remove any staples or tags from the bags. |
Eggshells | Yes | Brown | Crush or grind the shells before adding to the compost pile. |
Nutshells | Yes | Brown | Crush or grind the shells before adding to the compost pile. |
Yard trimmings | Yes | Green | Can include grass clippings, leaves, and small branches. Only compost healthy plant trimmings. Do not compost diseased or pest-infested plant material. |
Leaves (Oak, Maple, Birch, Ash) | Yes | Brown | Don’t add an excessive amount at once, as they can mat and prevent airflow. |
Grass clippings | Yes | Green | Do add grass clippings in layers, mix them with other materials Avoid adding too much at once to avoid clumping. Do not use grass that has been treated with chemicals or pesticides. |
Hay and straw | Yes | Brown | Can be used as a bulking agent to balance high-nitrogen materials. |
Wood chips and sawdust | Yes | Brown | Avoid using treated or painted wood. |
Shredded newspaper | Yes | Brown | Can be used as a bulking agent. |
Cardboard | Yes | Brown | Use uncolored, untreated cardboard in small pieces to provide carbon for the compost pile. Don’t use glossy or coated cardboard or cardboard with tape or glue as they are not compostable. |
Paper towels and napkins | Yes | Brown | Avoid using paper towels or napkins with cleaning chemicals or oil residues. |
Paper bags | Yes | Brown | |
Cotton and wool rags | Yes | Brown | Avoid using synthetic fabrics or materials with cleaning chemicals. |
Dryer and vacuum cleaner lint | Yes | Brown | Can be used as a bulking agent. |
Hair and fur | Yes | Green | Can add nutrients to the compost pile. |
Fireplace ashes | Yes | Brown | Use in moderation as an alkaline material. |
Seaweed and kelp | Yes | Green | Rinse off excess salt before adding to the compost pile. |
Algae | Yes | Green | Rinse off excess salt before adding to the compost pile. |
Dead plants and flowers | Yes | Brown | Avoid adding plants that have been treated with pesticides or herbicides. |
Houseplants | Yes | Green/Brown | Can include soil and roots. |
Wood ash | Yes | Brown | Use in moderation as an alkaline material. |
Corn cobs and stalks | Yes | Brown | Cut or break into small pieces. |
Pine needles | Yes | Brown | Use in moderation as they are acidic. |
Bamboo | Yes | Brown | Break into small pieces before adding to the compost pile. |
Cork | Yes | Brown | Can take a long time to decompose, chop into small pieces or shred. |
Biodegradable plastic made from… | Yes | Brown | Break the plastic down into small pieces before adding it to the compost pile. |
Soy-based ink | Yes | Brown | Shred paper with soy-based ink before adding it to the compost pile. |
Cottonseed meal | Yes | Brown | Mix cottonseed meal with high-carbon materials to avoid compacting the pile. |
Peanut shells | Yes | Brown | Break the shells down into smaller pieces before adding them to the compost pile. |
Rice hulls | Yes | Brown | Mix rice hulls with high-nitrogen materials to avoid compacting the pile. |
Wheat straw | Yes | Brown | Mix wheat straw with high-nitrogen materials to avoid compacting the pile. |
Coconut shells | Yes | Brown | Break the shells down into smaller pieces before adding them to the compost pile. |
Sugarcane bagasse | Yes | Brown | Chop sugarcane bagasse into small pieces before adding it to the compost pile. |
Banana peels | Yes | Green | Chop banana peels into small pieces before adding them to the compost pile. |
Orange peels | Yes | Green | Chop orange peels into small pieces before adding them to the compost pile. |
Grapefruit peels | Yes | Green | Chop grapefruit peels into small pieces before adding them to the compost pile. |
Lemon peels | Yes | Green | Chop lemon peels into small pieces before adding them to the compost pile. |
Lime peels | Yes | Green | Chop lime peels into small pieces before adding them to the compost pile. |
Avocado peels and pits | Yes | Green | Chop avocado peels and pits into small pieces before adding them to the compost pile. |
Mango pits | Yes | Green | Chop mango pits into small pieces before adding them to the compost pile. |
Pineapple tops and cores | Yes | Green | Chop pineapple tops and cores into small pieces before adding them to the compost pile. |
Watermelon rinds | Yes | Green | Chop watermelon rinds into small pieces before adding them to the compost pile. |
Pumpkin and squash seeds | Yes | Green | Clean and dry seeds before adding them to the compost pile. |
Melon rinds | Yes | Green | Chop melon rinds into small pieces before adding them to the compost pile. |
Artichoke leaves | Yes | Green | Chop artichoke leaves into small pieces before adding them to the compost pile. |
Cactus pads | Yes | Green | Chop cactus pads into small pieces before adding them to the compost pile. |
Egg cartons made from paper/cardboard | Yes | Brown | Break the egg cartons into small pieces before adding them to the compost pile. |
Biodegradable utensils made from… | Yes | Brown | Break the utensils down into small pieces before adding them to the compost pile. |
Chicken manure | Yes | Green | Mix chicken manure with high-carbon materials to avoid compacting the pile. |
Cow manure | Yes | Brown | Add in moderation, mix with green materials like grass clippings and vegetable scraps |
Sheep manure | Yes | Brown | Add in moderation, mix with green materials like grass clippings and vegetable scraps |
Horse manure | Yes | Brown | Add in moderation, mix with green materials like grass clippings and vegetable scraps |
Goat manure | Yes | Brown | Add in moderation, mix with green materials like grass clippings and vegetable scraps |
Worm castings | Yes | Brown | Mix with green materials like vegetable scraps, fruit waste and grass clippings |
Fish bones | Yes | Brown | Chop or grind before adding to the compost pile, mix with green materials like grass clippings |
Crab shells | Yes | Brown | Crush or grind before adding to the compost pile, mix with green materials like grass clippings |
Lobster shells | Yes | Brown | Crush or grind before adding to the compost pile, mix with green materials like grass clippings |
Mussel shells | Yes | Brown | Crush or grind before adding to the compost pile, mix with green materials like grass clippings |
Oyster shells | Yes | Brown | Crush or grind before adding to the compost pile, mix with green materials like grass clippings |
Seashells | Yes | Brown | Crush or grind before adding to the compost pile, mix with green materials like grass clippings |
Feathers | Yes | Brown | Chop or grind before adding to the compost pile, mix with green materials like grass clippings |
Hay and straw bedding from herbivores | Yes | Brown | Shred or chop into small pieces before adding to the compost pile, mix with green materials like vegetable scraps and fruit waste |
Alfalfa | Yes | Green | Add in moderation, mix with brown materials like dried leaves and twigs |
Clover | Yes | Green | Add in moderation, mix with brown materials like dried leaves and twigs |
Lupine | Yes | Green | Add in moderation, mix with brown materials like dried leaves and twigs |
Mustard | Yes | Green | Add in moderation, mix with brown materials like dried leaves and twigs |
Peas | Yes | Green | Add in moderation, mix with brown materials like dried leaves and twigs |
Beans | Yes | Green | Add in moderation, mix with brown materials like dried leaves and twigs |
Lentils | Yes | Green | Add in moderation, mix with brown materials like dried leaves and twigs |
Bread | Yes | Green | Shred or break into small pieces before adding to the compost pile, mix with brown materials like dried leaves and twigs |
Meat and dairy products | No | N/A | Do not add to the compost pile, as they can attract pests and slow down the composting process |
Fats and oils | No | N/A | Do not add to the compost pile, as they can attract pests and slow down the composting process |
Pet waste (e.g. dog and cat feces) | No | N/A | Do not compost pet waste as it can contain harmful bacteria and pathogens that can pose health risks. |
Diseased plants | No | N/A | Do not compost diseased plants as they can spread pathogens and diseases to healthy plants. |
Synthetic materials (e.g. plastics, rubber, and synthetic fabrics) | No | N/A | Synthetic materials do not decompose and can release harmful chemicals into the soil. |
Charcoal or coal ash | No | N/A | Charcoal or coal ash can contain harmful chemicals and heavy metals that can be toxic to plants. |
Glossy or colored paper | No | N/A | Glossy or colored paper can contain chemicals that are harmful to the soil and plants. |
Treated wood products | No | N/A | Treated wood products contain chemicals that can leach into the soil and harm plants. |
Metals and glass | No | N/A | Metals and glass do not decompose and can cause physical harm to plants and animals. |
Chemicals and hazardous materials | No | N/A | Chemicals and hazardous materials can pose serious health risk to humans, animals, and the environment. |
Beeswax | No | N/A | Not compostable, but can be used for making homemade candles, balms, and other natural products. |
Please feel free to suggest any other items that you would like to see included in our compost materials chart by leaving a comment below.