99 Things You Probably Didn’t Know You Can Compost

Anybody who has a composting bin or compost pile at their house knows that old apple cores, banana peels and potato skins can be composted. The list of items that can be composted doesn’t stop there, in fact, it barely scratches the surface.

Did you know that you can compost an old tea bag? Old spices? Grass clippings? How about sticky notes? Yes, each of those items can be composted!

There are many compostable items, and this list will get you started with the first ninety-nine. Composting at home is a very effective method to reduce the amount of waste you personally contribute to the landfill.

If you are composting for an organic garden use organic starting materials. Some of the items below I would not recommend for organic gardens. For clarity, I will specify those items below.

The Basics

1. All organic vegetable and fruit matter including rinds, skins, shells, seeds, cores and peels
2. Old leaves and hay
3. Used coffee grounds
4. Paper coffee filters
5. Grass clippings
6. Egg shells
7. Tea bags
8. Peat moss
9. Tree bark
10. Old flowers
11. Garden soil
12. Old top soil
13. Old bread
14. Wheat bran
15. Cooked grains
16. Olive pits
17. Popcorn kernels
18. Dust bunnies
19. Toothpicks
20. Business cards (Paper)
21. Natural wine corks
22. Toilet paper rolls
23. Wrapping paper rolls
24. Old loose leaf tea leaves
25. Dried brown garden weeds (avoid composting weeds that go to seed)
26. Spices and herbs that have lost their smell
27. Nut shells (except walnut shells, which contain a chemical that can be toxic to plants)
28. Wood chips and sawdust – from untreated wood, treated wood is toxic
29. Soy products – non GMO
30. Wine and beer-making wastes
31. Old dry cereals, crackers, chips, cookies, etc.
32. 100% cotton swabs and Q-tips (do not compost plastic sticks)
33. Wood fire ashes from grill or fire-place (also from smoking fish and other meats)
34. Dirt in soles of shoes
35. Facial tissues (unless soiled with chemical products)
36. Old organic milk, ice cream, cream, etc. (in limited amounts)
37. 100% cotton clothing (ripped into small pieces)
38. 100% wool clothing (ripped into small pieces)
39. Raffia decorations
40. Crepe paper streamers
41. Paper napkins
42. Natural wreaths, garlands and other natural holiday decor
43. Chopped up Christmas trees
44. Aquarium plants
45. Paper bags (ripped into smaller pieces)
46. Old Post-it Notes
47. Any form of paper that has been soiled by food
48. Pizza boxes (make sure to break them down into small pieces)
49. Shrimp shells
50. Used paper plates without wax coatings
51. Old mail and bills (make sure not to compost envelopes with the plastic windows)
52. Paper or wood-based matches
53. Animal manure and droppings
54. Paper towels and towel rolls
55. Cork
56. Organic glue
57. Animal fur
58. Jell-O (gelatin)
59. Paper muffin and cupcake cups
60. Cage cleanings from small pets such as Guinea pigs, rabbits, birds and iguanas
61. Freezer burned fruits and veggies
62. Burlap sack
63. Stale candy (remove wrapper, of course!)
64. Cardboard and paper egg cartons
65. Cardboard tampon applicators
66. The boxes that surround many forms of cheeses
67. Pure cellophane bags
68. Paper Envelopes from your mail (Shredded up)
69. Shredded catalogs and magazines (unless they have a very waxy cover)
70. Chewing gum
71. Feathers
72. Old rope
73. Stale catnip
74. Organic cotton socks
75. Dead houseplants
76. Star fish (dead)
77. Old Halloween pumpkins
78. Electric razor trimmings
79. Finger and toe nail clippings
80. Hair – Both human and animal hair is compostable
81. Ground bone and blood meal
82. Old rawhide dog chews
83. Old dog/cat foods
84. Small pets that have died, like goldfish (Not recommended, but possible.)
85. Urine (although can be quite smelly in the summer sun)
86. Old cheeses
87. Ash from fire place
88. Old beer, wine and liquor
89. Crustacean shells (shrimp, crab, lobster, etc.)
90. Organic tobacco waste
91. Bamboo products
92. Old fish food
93. Sheepskin condoms
94. Shower loofahs (made from natural materials, such as sea sponge)
95. Bamboo skewers
96. Granite dust
97. Dolomite lime
98. Liquid from canned fruits and vegetables
99. Pure soap scraps

Do you compost at home? Can you think of some other items you can compost? If I missed anything, please let me know in the comments below.