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Whether you live in a busy apartment or have your own backyard, composting is a super easy way to cut down on waste & give back to nature.
After a few years of composting in both apartment and backyard settings, I can tell you it’s simple to fit it into your everyday life.
I’ve even organized community composting events right here in New Jersey!
From kitchen scraps to some unexpected household stuff, composting turns trash into treasure.
If you are new to composting, you can read my detailed posts on
Why does composting matter?
Before we jump into the list, let’s chat about why composting is such a big deal! Every time you toss something compostable into your bin instead of the trash, you’re:
- Cutting down landfill waste (and those nasty methane emissions)
- Making nutrient-rich soil for your plants (so long, pricey fertilizers!)
- Saving cash on garden supplies
- Helping to fight climate change
In my experience, once you start composting, you’ll see “trash” differently. Not trash—it’s future soil! Those fallen leaves? They’re nature helping out with compost!
Setting up your compost system
If you’re new to composting, No worries—it’s easier than you think. Here are some options:
- Backyard bin or pile: My favorite! Watching that pile grow is so satisfying!
- Compost tumbler: Perfect for smaller spaces or if you wanna speed things up.
- Worm bin (vermicomposting): Great for apartments. My worm bin kicked off my composting journey!
- Bokashi system: Awesome for meat & dairy (which don’t usually go in regular compost).
So here’s a list of everyday things you can compost, making it super easy to help our environment:
# Food Scraps
- Fruit & vegetable peels: Banana peels, apple cores, carrot tops—just toss ‘em in!
- Coffee grounds & filters: They’re rich in nitrogen—perfect for your compost pile.
- Tea bags: Just take out the staple.
- Eggshells: Crushed shells add calcium—great stuff!
- Bread & grains: Stale bread, cooked pasta, or rice will all break down.
# Paper Products
- Newspaper & paper towels: As long as they ain’t soaked with chemicals, they’re good for composting.
- Cardboard boxes (broken down): Tearing them into pieces speeds things up!
- Paper egg cartons: They break down quickly & add nice texture.
- Receipts (no gloss): If they don’t have plastic coatings, toss ‘em in.
# Yard Waste
- Grass clippings & leaves: Full of nitrogen—they break down fast!
- Weeds (before seeding): Helps keep your compost airy!
- Twigs & small branches: They take a bit longer but help with airflow.
# Cloth & Fabric
- Cotton or wool scraps: Old cotton T-shirts or socks that need a new home work great!
- Lint from the dryer: As long as it’s natural fiber like cotton or wool.
- Old cotton towels: Cut ‘em into small bits for easier breakdown.
# Hair & Pet Fur
- Human hair: Just a little can help balance nitrogen in your compost.
- Nail Clippings: A small but useful addition to your compost pile.
- Pet fur: With my cat around, this is always going in!
- Feathers: If you’ve got pillows made of down, tiny bits can be composted too!
# Personal care items
- Wooden toothbrushes: Toss them in after removing the bristles.
- Natural sponges: Plant-based sponges belong here when they’re all used up.
- Cotton swabs: Only ones with cardboard and cotton parts!
# Office Supplies
- Pencil shavings: Great source of carbon goodies!
- Shredded paper: I add this during community events—it balances moisture nicely.
# Miscellaneous Items
- Natural corks: Definitely not the fake ones!
- Wine-stained napkins: Dirty ones after dinner are okay too.
- Old mattresses (cut-up fabric pieces): If they’re made from organic materials.
Composting do’s and don’ts?
Over the years, I’ve figured out some tips to keep my pile happy:
- Balance your “greens” (nitrogen-rich materials like food scraps) and “browns” (carbon-rich materials like leaves and paper).
- Avoid meat, dairy, fish, oily foods, and Pet waste—they attract pests and smell bad.
- Keep your pile moist but don’t drown it!
- Turn it regularly to keep air flowin’ and speed up breaking down.
Composting doesn’t have to be complicated or limited to certain lifestyles.
Whether you’re in a New Jersey apartment like me or lucky enough to have a backyard, there’s a ton of stuff you can toss in the bin every day—from food scraps to paper products and even pet fur! You’ll create nutrient-rich soil for your plants.
So why not take another look at what you’re calling trash? You might find more things than you think that could be turned into good soil! Join the composting movement today & start cutting waste from your home!
