The Best Things to Put in a Composter

A Guide to Effective Composting

Composting is an excellent way to reduce waste, improve your garden’s soil health, and contribute to a more sustainable environment. However, not everything breaks down at the same rate, and certain materials complement each other in the composting process. Here’s a guide on the best things to put in a composter and how to combine materials for optimal results.

The Basics of Composting: Green and Brown Materials

Compost requires a balance of greens (nitrogen-rich materials) and browns (carbon-rich materials) to decompose effectively. Greens provide nutrients that feed microbes, while browns supply energy and help maintain the structure of the compost pile.

Greens: Vegetable scraps, fruit peels, coffee grounds, tea bags, grass clippings.

Browns: Dry leaves, cardboard, newspaper, straw, sawdust (untreated).

The ideal ratio is about 2-3 parts browns to 1 part greens. This balance ensures the compost remains well-aerated and prevents it from becoming too wet or smelly.

Best Things to Put in a Composter

Vegetable and Fruit Scraps

Examples: Peels, cores, rinds, and any leftover veggies.

These break down quickly and add essential nutrients like potassium and phosphorus.

Coffee Grounds and Filters

Rich in nitrogen, coffee grounds are an excellent green material. Used filters (if unbleached) can be added as browns.

Eggshells

While slow to decompose, eggshells add calcium to the compost, which benefits plant growth.

Garden Waste

Grass clippings (greens) and dry leaves (browns) are ideal for composting.
Shredded branches and twigs help improve aeration but decompose slowly.

Paper Products

Shredded newspaper, paper towels, and cardboard can be used as browns.
Ensure they are not coated with plastic or ink.

Herbivore Manure

Rabbit, horse, and cow manure enrich compost with nitrogen. Avoid manure from carnivores or omnivores due to potential pathogens.

Hair and Fur

These are rich in nitrogen and break down slowly, but they add texture to the compost.

Food Scraps

Bread and pasta can be composted in moderation, though they may attract pests if not buried deeply.

(Dont put too much green waste on at once or the pile will take much longer to break down)

Materials That Break Down Faster

Grass Clippings + Fruit Scraps: Combining wet greens like grass clippings with fruit scraps creates a moist, nitrogen-rich layer that microbes love.

Shredded Paper + Coffee Grounds: Coffee grounds heat up quickly when combined with carbon-rich paper, accelerating decomposition.

Dry Leaves + Vegetable Scraps: Leaves absorb moisture from vegetable scraps, preventing sogginess and promoting faster breakdown.

Materials That Take Longer to Decompose

Woody Materials: Branches, twigs, and nutshells decompose slowly. Shredding them first speeds up the process.

Eggshells: Crushing them helps, but they still take time to break down completely.

Corn Cobs and Stalks: These are fibrous and tough, requiring more time unless chopped into smaller pieces.

(Adding worms to the pile will help it break down faster and improve the quality, but they can only be added at least half way through the process)

What Not to Put in a Composter

Avoid adding the following, as they can attract pests, introduce pathogens, or harm the composting process:

• Meat, bones, and dairy products.
• Oily foods or greasy leftovers.
• Pet waste (from carnivores like cats and dogs).
• Diseased plants or invasive weeds.
• Plastic, glass, or chemically treated wood.

Pro Tips for Faster Composting

Layer Materials: Alternate layers of greens and browns for optimal aeration and moisture control.

Chop and Shred: Smaller pieces decompose more quickly, so chop kitchen scraps and shred leaves or cardboard.

Turn the Pile: Aerating the compost regularly speeds up decomposition by adding oxygen.

Monitor Moisture: Compost should be as damp as a wrung-out sponge. Too dry, and decomposition slows; too wet, and it may smell.

Composting is a rewarding practice that transforms waste into valuable garden gold. By understanding what materials to include and how to combine them, you can create rich, nutrient-dense compost in no time. Stick to the right balance of greens and browns, avoid the no-nos, and watch your compost pile thrive!