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

  • 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 PLA label cups and lids)

    Coffee pods: Only certified compostable pods

NO

  • 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.