Anybody that has a composting bin or compost pile at their house knows that old apple cores, banana peels and potato skins can be composted. But many people who compost at home are unaware of the sheer vastness of every day waste that can easily be thrown in their compost bin.

For example, did you know that you can compost an old tea bag? Old spices? Pencil shavings? How about sticky notes? Yes, each of those items can be composted!

In fact, there are many items that you can compost, and the following list will get you started with the first ninety-nine. And the best news? If everyone began to compost at home on a regular basis, the world’s landfills would be drastically reduced.

If you are composting for an organic garden use organic starting materials. Some of the items below I would not recommend for organic gardens. For clarity, I will specify those items below.

The Basics:

1. All organic vegetable and fruit matter including rinds, skins, shells, seeds, cores and peels
2. Old leaves & hay
3. Used coffee grounds
4. Paper coffee filters
5. Grass clippings
6. Egg shells

Unique Every Day Items

1. Tea bags
2. Peat moss
3. Tree bark
4. Old flowers
5. Garden soil
6. Old top soil
7. Old bread
8. Wheat bran
9. Cooked grains
10. Olive pits
11. Pencil shavings
12. Dust bunnies
13. Toothpicks
14. Business cards (Paper)
15. Natural wine corks
16. Toilet paper rolls
17. Wrapping paper rolls
18. Old loose leaf tea leaves
19. Dried brown garden weeds (avoid composting weeds that go to seed)
20. Spices and herbs that have lost their smell
21. Nut shells (except walnut shells, which contain a chemical that can be toxic to plants)
22. Wood chips and sawdust
23. Soy products
24. Wine and beer-making wastes
25. Old dry cereals, crackers, chips, cookies, etc.
26. 100% cotton swabs and Q-tips (do not compost plastic sticks)
27. Wood fire ashes from grill or fire-place (also from smoking fish and other meats)
28. Dirt in soles of shoes
29. Facial tissues (unless soiled with chemical products)
30. Old milk, ice cream, cream, etc. (in limited amounts)
31. 100% cotton clothing (ripped into small pieces)
32. 100% wool clothing (ripped into small pieces)
33. Raffia decorations
34. Crepe paper streamers

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