What NOT to Compost

What Shouldn’t You Compost?

There are certain things that should not be added to your compost. These are things that can potentially be hazardous to health, attract pests, or just not work well for composting.

Here are some examples:

• Meat and bones (can attract animals)
• Butter and dairy products
• Oil/fat/grease
• Salad dressing
• Diseased plants
• Weed seeds
• Charcoal ash
• Pet or human feces
• Cooked food waste (can attracts animals)
• Glossy paper
• Citrus peels and onions (in large amounts)
• Sawdust/wood chips from TREATED wood (any chemical additives like stain or varnish)
• Branches (break all wood as small as you can first)

Resources

“Composting in Your Backyard.” Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, 15 Mar. 2019, http://www.pca.state.mn.us/waste/composting-your-backyard.

“Materials for Composting.” Materials for Composting – Composting for the Homeowner – University of Illinois Extension, web.extension.illinois.edu/homecompost/materials.cfm.