If you live in an urban area you may want to invest in a compost bin. Households with larger yards can mound yard wastes, or make a larger containment. See the links at right for more information on home made bin designs.
What can I put in my backyard compost bin?
Backyard composting of yard waste and kitchen scraps is popular. People are excited to take practical steps to reduce waste and make a wonderful product for their indoor or outdoor plants. Often, there is confusion about what can be safely placed in your backyard compost bin. Here is a list of what we do (and do not) recommend.
Materials that are acceptable:
- Coffee grounds and filter paer
- Tea--loose or in bags
- Uncooked vegetables or fruit
- Egg shells
- Plant trimmings
- Weeds that have not gone to seed or have seed pods on them.
- Non-recyclable paper--like tissues and napkins--and items with a compostable label may take longer to break down than plants, but can be placed in a backyard bin.
Materials that are not recommended:
- Meat, fats, dairy, or cooked vegetables. These items may attract animals or cause odors.
- Paper. Recyclable paper should be recycled.
- Biodegradable plastics.
- Pet waste. Feces may introduce pathogens that will not be killed in the compost process.
- Weeds that have seed pods or have gone to seed. The backyard compost process will not kill the weed seed, and you'll spread weeds all over your garden when you use the compost!
For more information on backyard composting, go to
reduce.org.