Our List of Acceptable + Not Acceptable Materials for Your Scrap Bucket

ACCEPTABLE:

  • Baked goods: bread, cakes, cookies, pastries, pies, etc.

  • Baking supplies: cocoa, flour, sugar, etc.

  • Candy (BUT no gum, sucker sticks, wrappers/packaging)

  • Coffee beans, grounds and paper coffee filters

  • Cooked/Cured meat (BUT no bones or raw meat)

  • Dead/Dying houseplants + garden waste: including old/spent potting soil UNLESS chemically treated. (Please remove rocks and break apart root balls!)

  • Eggs: raw or hardboiled, shells too!

  • Fall leaves (Without sticks or grass clippings mixed in)

  • Fish skins

  • Fresh/cut flowers (Unless painted/dipped/dyed)

  • Fruits + vegetables: Pits and cores. Fresh, frozen or rotten, whole or scraps, raw or cooked ALL are acceptable (Please remove all plastic pieces, tags, stickers, etc)

  • Grains: corn, rice, wheat, etc.

  • Grain-based products: cereals, chips, pastas, tortillas, etc.

  • Jams, jellies, + other canned/jarred goods: syrups, nut butters, salsas, hummus, tahini, etc.

  • Nuts + seeds

  • Plain popsicle sticks + toothpicks

  • Protein powders: whey, soy, pea etc.

  • Pumpkins + gourds (No painted pumpkins, decorations removed)

  • Soft + solid dairy products: sauces, slices, cream cheese, sour cream, yogurt, etc

  • Specific paper items: (UNCOATED/NONGLOSSY) coffee filters, egg cartons (paper labels removed), napkins, brown paper bags (soiled or clean), paper plates, paper towels, pizza boxes, empty toilet paper/paper towel tubes

  • Sushi rolls + seaweed

  • Tea leaves + tea bags (Remove all staples; NO pyramid tea bags)

NOT ACCEPTABLE:

  • STICKERS, RUBBER BANDS, TWIST TIES, + OTHER PLASTICS attached to fresh fruits and vegetables

  • Any paper or cardboard items not specifically listed in the Acceptable column

  • Ashes (Due to high contamination risk)

  • Black walnut products (due to juglone content)

  • Bones

  • Ceramics (ex. terracotta pot pieces)

  • Charcoal or coal (Natural or not)

  • Cleaning supplies or chemical-based products: bleach, disinfectant/wet/baby wipes, household cleaners, make-up, rubbing alcohol, soap, Swiffer pads, etc)

  • Corks of any kind (Do not compost well)

  • Diapers or feminine hygiene products

  • DRYER LINT (Due to risk of microplastics/PFAS and dyes)

  • Foil

  • Glass

  • Hard, woody materials: bamboo brush handles, sandal soles, etc

  • Lawn grass/lawn mower clippings (Due to risk of herbicide/weed killer/Roundup contamination)

  • Large amounts of oils or liquids such as grease/cooking oils, brine, coffee, juices, kombucha. etc.

  • Leather goods/products or clothing of any kind

  • Liquid dairy: milk, heavy cream, half and half, etc

  • Non-compostable/”Biodegradable” plastic/Foams

  • Pet Feces

  • Pharmaceutical drugs/medications of any kind

  • Raw/uncooked meat

  • Staples (Metal of any kind. Remove staples from tea bags)

  • Synthetic, semi-synthetic, or inorganic fabrics: nylon, polyester, rayon, spandex, etc

  • Toe + Finger nail clippings (Due to contamination risk)

  • Used tissues or Kleenex (For health reasons)

  • Vacuum cleaner contents (Due to risk of microplastics)

  • Wax, baking, parchment, gift wrap + tissue paper or any other “non-stick” or grease/water resistant paper