The following is a chart listing common composting materials
Type of Material
Use it?
Carbon/ Nitrogen
Details
Vegetables and veggie peels
Yes
Nitrogen
Great source of nitrogen. Bury in compost pile.
Leaves (trees and bushes)
Yes
Carbon
May contain materials bad for plants.
Ashes from untreated, unpainted wood
Careful
Neutral
Fine amounts at most. Can make the pile too alkaline and suppress
composting.
Fruit and fruit peels
Yes
Nitrogen
great source of nitrogen. Bury within compost pile.
Bird droppings
Careful
Nitrogen
May contain weed seeds or disease organisms.
Cardboard
Yes
Carbon
Shred into small pieces if you use it. Wetting it makes it easier
to tear. If you have a lot, consider recycling instead.
Cat droppings or cat litter
No
n/a
May contain disease organisms. Avoid.
Coffee ground and filters
Yes
N
Great souce of nitrogen for your composter, add the grounds and the filter. Worms love coffee grounds and coffee filters.
Compost activator
Not required, but ok.
Neutral
You don’t really need it, but it doesn’t hurt.
Cornstalks, corn cobs
Yes
Carbon
Best if shredded and mixed well with nitrogen rich materials.
Diseased plants
Careful
Nitrogen
If your pile doesn’t get hot enough, it might not kill the organisms,
so be careful. Let it cure several months, and don’t use resulting
compost near the type of plant that was diseased.
Dog droppings
No
n/a
Avoid.
Dryer lint
Yes
Carbon
Compost away! Moistening helps.
Eggshells
Yes
O
Break down slowly. Crushing shells helps.
Fish scraps
No
n/a
Can attract rodents and cause a stinky pile.
Beverages, kitchen rinse water
Yes
Neutral
Good to moisten the middle of the pile. Don’t over-moisten the
pile.