Southern Wisconsin Times

Do you want to try home composting but are unsure where to start or what’s compostable? Composting is one of the simplest ways to reduce waste and give back to the environment. By turning organic scraps into nutrient-rich fertilizer, you’re not only cutting down on the amount of trash that goes into the landfill but also enriching your garden.

However, not everything can be composted. Before you start your own compost pile, it’s important to know what you can compost and what you should avoid. This guide from Blain’s Farm & Fleet will break it all down for you.

Compost is formed by combining two main types of materials—greens and browns. A good compost pile should contain both of these to maintain balance and promote decomposition.

Green materials add moisture and nitrogen, which help fuel the composting process. Here are some common green materials you can include in your compost:

Fruit Scraps: Apple cores, banana peels, orange peels, watermelon rinds, and other fruit scraps can all go in your compost.

Vegetable Scraps: Carrot peels, potato skins, and other vegetable trimmings are great for composting. This includes freezer-burned produce.

Coffee Grounds: They’re rich in nitrogen.

Tea Bags: Most paper tea bags can be composted, but avoid any that are plastic-based.

Fresh Grass Clippings: It’s an excellent green material, but avoid using clippings treated with pesticides.

Plant Trimmings: Include fresh stems, leaves, and other green yard waste. Just be sure to check them for diseases before adding to the pile.

Eggshells: Well not technically “green,” they add calcium to the mix. We recommend crushing them before adding.

Brown materials add carbon, which helps provide structure and prevent your compost from becoming too soggy or smelly. Here are some common brown materials to include:

Dry Leaves and Twigs: These are excellent sources of carbon. Shred them down before adding to the pile.

Paper and Cardboard: Things like shredded newspaper, toilet paper rolls, and paper bags all work well.

Wood Chips and Sawdust: These add texture and help with drainage. Use untreated wood only.

Straw, Hay, or Dried Grass: These materials are light and great for layering with green materials.

Hair, Fur, and Dryer Lint: These all work in compost!

Nut Shells: Good for carbon but break them into smaller pieces to help them decay faster.

Cornstalks: We recommend breaking them into smaller pieces before adding.

A general rule of thumb is two to three parts brown materials for every one part green material. If there is too much green material in a pile it will smell; if there is too much brown material decomposition will slow down significantly

While it’s tempting throw any organic material into a composter some items disrupt process harm plants Here some things should avoid

Meat Fish Bones attract pests difficult break down Dairy Products milk cheese yogurt cause bad odors attract unwanted animals Greasy Foods Fats Oils coat other slow decomposition Pet Waste Dog cat feces contain harmful pathogens best leave out Diseased Plants prevent disease spreading garden Weeds risk spreading later Coal Charcoal Ashes chemicals harm Treated Colored Paper glossy finishes colored ink chemical treatments won’t break easily may contaminate Other Materials Items made plastic glass metal synthetic fibers not

Being selective about what goes into a composter ensures remains safe usable When comes just set forget need give care attention keep thriving To get most follow best practices

Choose Right Location bins work partially shady area Too much sun might dry out while shade slow Keep Balance Alternate layers Too make slimy smelly Turn Regularly Stirring turning every few weeks adds oxygen speed prevents Monitor Moisture Levels feel like wrung-out sponge moist soggy wet more dry lightly sprinkle Chop Shred Smaller pieces chop larger melon rinds cardboard Cover Use tarp sheet excessive rain drying sun bin ensure well-ventilated overheating Be Patient Good things take time exception Depending size often maintain expect usable few months year Now prepared started tips above reduce produce rich natural fertilizer still see blog article backyard