Composting is the managed and faster natural breakdown (decomposition) process of select organic waste you can do at home to reduce waste. Microorganisms break down select materials into compost with the presence of carbon, nitrogen, air, and water.
Below you can see what types of waste our residents produce (based household averages from 2017 Composition Study).
What to Compost?
| BROWNS (Carbon Rich - Energy Source) |
GREENS (Nitrogen Rich - Protein Source) |
|---|---|
| Branches & Twigs (chopped) | Citrus Peels & Rinds (add sparingly) |
|
Brown Paper Bags (shredded) |
Coffee Grounds |
|
Cork (natural only) |
Feathers & Fur |
|
Egg Cartons (cardboard) |
Fruits & Vegetables (remove stickers) |
|
Eggshells (crushed & rinsed) |
Grains & Hops |
|
Hay, Leaves, & Straw (dry) |
Hair (no dye, extensions, or petroleum products) |
|
Pet Bedding (healthy gerbil, guinea pig, hamster, & rabbit) |
House Plants |
|
Newspaper (shredded) |
Manure (healthy herbivore waste) |
|
Paper & Cardboard (shredded, uncoated, sticker & tape free) |
Nail Clippings (no acrylics or polish) |
| Paper Coffee Filters | Non-Woody Pruning |
| Paper Towel & Toilet Paper Rolls | Nut shells (except walnuts) |
| Sawdust (untreated wood) | Spent Flowers |
| Shrub Pruning | Tea Grounds & Leaves (no staples) |
| Wood Ash (untreated wood, add sparingly) | Weeds without mature seeds (only non-invasive) |
Items to Avoid |
||
| Bioplastics | Diseased or Insect-Ridden Plants | Grass Clippings |
| Bones & Meat | Dryer & Vacuum Lint | Medications |
| Cat Litter & Dog Feces | Eggs & Dairy Products | Paper Products (Glossy, Coated) |
| Cigarettes | Fat, Grease, Lard & Oil | Particle Board |
| Coal & Charcoal Ash | Glass, Metal, & Plastic |
Plants Treated with Pesticides |
Thank you to the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF IFAS) for their continued support and research contributions to our City programs. UF continues to be a leader in organics management and food waste prevention; our team continues to learn, adapt, and implement education based on their standards and research. For more information on their conservation and education programs visit: UF IFAS.