Composting is a natural process of recycling organic matter into a valuable fertilizer that can enrich soil and plants. Here are some items that can be composted:
- Fruit scraps
- Vegetable scraps
- Coffee grounds
- Eggshells
- Grass and plant clippings
- Leaves
- Non-plastic tea bags (staples removed)
- Tissues, paper towels, napkins
- Herbivore manure (e.g., guinea pigs, rabbits, hamsters, cow, etc.)
- Chicken manure (compost in a hot pile only to kill off pathogens and cure once finished for 45 to 60 days to ensure all pathogens have been killed)
- Hair (uncolored, unbleached)
- Nail clippings (without polish)
- Urine (great source of nitrogen but err on the side of caution if you take medication)
- Corks
However, there are also items that should not be composted, such as:
- Meat and fish
- Dairy products like milk, sour cream, yogurt, cheese, and butter
- Oils and fats
- Processed foods that contain preservatives, additives, or chemicals
- Plastic or plastic-coated products
- Bioplastics
- Styrofoam
It is important to note that diseased food should not be composted, but moldy fruit and vegetable scraps are safe to compost.
