What to compost
We send your compost to a commercial composting facility, which is able to break down a variety of items beyond what is possible with backyard composting. This means that we can accept certified compostable disposables and ALL food waste, including meat, dairy, and bones. You can download and print an English and Spanish language version of this list here.
What to Put in Your Composting Container
YES
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Baked goods
Bones
Breads
Candy
Cereal
Coffee grounds
Dairy products
Eggshells
Fish/seafood
Fried food
All fruits
Meats
Grain products
All vegetables
Spices/herbs
Sugars/syrup
Tea
-
Pizza boxes and other un-lined, food-soiled cardboard.
Paper towels and napkins: Certified compostable or made of 100% paper or 100% recycled paper
Parchment or waxed paper: Certified compostable or made of 100% paper or 100% recycled paper
Coffee filters: Certified compostable or made of 100% paper or 100% recycled paper
Paper plates: Certified compostable or made of 100% paper or 100% recycled paper, no plastic lining
Brown paper bags (from grocery stores or take-out food): Certified compostable, or unlined with no shiny or glossy interior or exterior and/or 100% paper or 100% recycled paper
Newspaper: Okay in small amounts if used as a liner in your compost container
Shredded paper: Okay in small amounts if used as a liner in your compost container
-
Wooden Utensils
Other wood disposables (toothpicks, chopsticks, wood stir sticks, etc.): Only if 100% wood and there are no frills or treatments
Compostable disposable plastics (cups, utensils, containers): Only certified compostable items (look for the #7 PLA label on cups and lids)
Coffee pods: Only certified compostable pods
NO
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Non-food-soiled cardboard (should be recycled)
Tea bags
Berry containers
Candy wrappers
Plastic condiment packets
Gum
Juice boxes, other foil-lined containers
Large quantities of liquids
Waxed cardboard cartons
Wine bottle corks
-
Candles
Cat litter
Ceramics
Christmas trees
Cleaners
Dog food bags
Facial tissue
Organic or Synthetic clothing
Swiffer dusters
Soap
Textiles
-
Cigarettes/cigars
Construction materials
Dead animals
Feces
Fertilizers
Glass
Hygiene products
Pencils
Rubber
Soil
Styrofoam
Wax
To explore other options for disposing of non-accepted items, ask your municipality what their recommendations are. You might find that they have a program through Simple Recycling like the City of Evanston does. Chicago Environmentalists has a whole website full of resources. Here’s their recycling page. Also, SWANCC and SWALCO are good resources.