Basic organics recycling list
Brush up on the basics to make sure you're putting the right things in the organics recycling. See our organics recycling guide (PDF) for the list of what's accepted. These items can be successfully broken down by microbes at commercial composting facilities and turned into nutrient-rich compost that is used to improve soil in gardens, farms, and landscaping projects. The guide also includes the most important items to leave out because they cause problems in the composting process.
Note that the list of accepted items is for organics recycling pickup and drop-off programs. Fewer items can be put in backyard compost bins since they don’t reach high enough temperatures to safely break down certain items.
Find a detailed list of accepted and not accepted items below.
The importance of composting the right things
Organics recycling is the best way to reduce the amount of waste put in our trash bins - helping to move us closer to our zero waste and climate action goals. You can help ensure the success and sustainability of organics recycling programs by putting the right materials in the organics bin.
Compost sites need to receive organics with low levels of contamination, or materials that cannot be composted, so they can produce clean, nutrient-rich compost that people want to purchase and use. Compost that contains plastic, glass, and other contaminants is very difficult to sell and can only be used for low-end, low-value purposes.
If you aren’t sure what to do with an item or are not sure it's compostable, refer to the organics recycling guide (PDF) or put it in the trash.
Detailed organics recycling list
Food
A note about food: If you’re unsure where to start with organics recycling, focus on collecting food. Spoiled food and food scraps are the most common material in the trash and the most nutrient-rich material in the composting process, making them the most important material to collect for organics recycling.
Accepted:
All food, including:
- Bread and cereal
- Cheese, yogurt, and other dairy products and non-dairy alternatives
- Dough, pastries, and pies
- Eggs and eggshells
- Fruits and vegetables including peels, pits, shells, and rinds (remove produce stickers)
- Leftovers
- Meat, fish, bones, and shellfish, including scales and shells
- Nuts and shells
- Pasta, grains, beans, and rice
- Pet food
Not accepted:
- Black Walnut shells (these shells contain a toxin called juglone that is deadly to many plants)
- Chewing gum
- Grease, oil, or other liquids (small amounts are okay)
Paper products and packaging
Accepted:
- BPI certified compostable products including cups, plates, bowls, containers, parchment, and wax paper (must have the BPI logo or say BPI certified on the product or its container)
- Food-soiled pizza boxes from delivery (clean, empty, and grease-free pizza boxes may be accepted for recycling by your program)
- Napkins and food-soiled paper towels
- Paper bags soiled with food or grease (if they are not soiled, put them in the recycling)
- Paper egg cartons (remove sticker labels)
- Paper towel and toilet paper rolls (while these are accepted for organics recycling, putting them in the recycling is preferred)
Not accepted:
- Asian takeout food pails (unless BPI certified)
- Butcher paper, parchment paper, wax paper, and muffin cups (unless BPI certified)
- Cartons, including milk cartons, juice boxes, and soup, broth, and wine cartons (these are accepted for recycling)
- Coated paper, such as the backing for stickers and labels and pull tabs from restaurants and bars
- Fast food wrappers, such as fry bags and burger or sandwich wrappers (unless BPI certified)
- Ice cream containers
- Microwave popcorn bags
- Paper printed with foil or other metallic elements, like glitter
- Paper products, including to-go coffee and drink cups, boats, bowls, and plates, without BPI certification
- Paper products, like paper towels and napkins, used with chemical-based cleaners
- Products labeled “biodegradable” or PLA (polylactic acid) that are not BPI certified
- Refrigerated and frozen food boxes
- Receipts
- Shredded paper
- Waxed cardboard produce boxes
- Wrapping paper, gift wrap, packing paper, and tissue paper
Other household items
Accepted:
- BPI certified compostable products including cups, plates, bowls, containers, utensils, straws, bags, bamboo products, bagasse products, and single-use coffee pods (must have the BPI logo or say BPI certified on the product or its container)
- Coffee grounds and filters
- Cotton swabs with paper stems
- Houseplants and flowers
- Paper tea bags (remove staples)
- Tea leaves
- Wooden items such as wood chopsticks, popsicle sticks, and toothpicks
Not accepted:
- Animal waste or litter
- Ash from fireplaces, barbecues, or fire pits
- Charcoal
- Cigarettes
- Cleaning and personal care wipes
- Cotton balls and swabs used with products like acetone, make-up, and paint
- Dental floss
- Diapers
- Dryer lint and dryer sheets
- Floor sweepings
- Incontinence products
- Latex products, including gloves and balloons
- Lumber and sawdust
- Medicines
- Menstrual products
- Plastic bags or containers that are not BPI certified
- Plastic, metal mesh, and synthetic tea bags
- Recyclable materials (glass bottles and jars; paper and cardboard; plastic bottles, jugs, cups, and containers; cartons; metal cans)
- Rocks, soil, and dirt
- Rubber and rubber bands
- Tape of any kind
- Vacuum cleaner bags and contents
- Wax and waxed products including wax paper (unless BPI certified), candle wax, car wax, and waxed bones
- Yard waste
