“What to put in a compost pile” is a questions I often get. Here is a list of things I put in my compost pile. Most people don’t realize how many different things you can put in a compost pile.
I collect enough that I usually take 1 large bowl out to the compost pile everyday just from the house. Here what to put in a compost pile:
Wood/Paper
paper plates
paper napkins
paper towels
paper tableclothes (like for birthday parties)
coffee filters
egg cartons (cardboard)
newspaper ( I mostly use this for laying down under mulch)
brown paper (like bags, instant oatmeal packages)
sawdust (pencil shavings too)
wood shavings from hamster
tissues
junk mail (remove plastic)
straw wrappers
cereal boxes, toilet paper rolls, paper towel rolls can all be put in but take a long time to break down so you may need to tear them up or put them in a pile you won’t use for a year or two.
Food
coffee grounds
tea bags
all fruit and vegetable peelings and cores
eggshells
popcorn
popcorn kernels
avocado pits
pickles
corncobs
all grains
rice
oatmeal
crackers
pasta
old cereal
nuts (not walnuts or walnut shells they are toxic to plants)
herbs and spices (fresh and dried)
Yard waste
all old flowers and stalks (including the grocery store kind your husband brings home for your anniversary. The gift that keeps on giving! 🙂
leaves
wood chips
bark
grass clippings
weeds that haven’t gone to seed yet. (usually I just pull and leave them to rot in the garden.)
Animal
bunny, chicken and cow manure
old animal food
“Weird” things to put in the compost pile
cotton balls
vacuum cleaner contents (watch for coins 🙂
Dryer lint (when I’m not using the clothesline)
Fireplace ashes (water down first! One time I put them in the compost pile “sure” they were cold and and hour later my compost pile was on fire. Not good!)
Dead potpourri and dead dried flowers
Pet and human hair
Things you don’t want to put in a compost pile
Meat
Fats
heavy paper or cardbaord, you can put this in but it will take 1-2 years to break down unless you break it into small pieces first.
Feces from pets or human
Black walnut bark, leaves or nuts (toxic to plants)
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photo by: nancybeetoo
Don’t worry about weeds that have gone to seed. Most will break down in the compost and any that don’t and germinate in the garden will give you free mulch. I actually scatter weed seeds all around my garden for living mulch and plants I can cut at ground level and then chop up and use as mulch.