Which Kitchen Scraps Can I Put in the Compost Bin?

Kitchen waste is one of the richest nitrogen sources available for the compost heap — vegetable peelings, fruit scraps, tea bags, and coffee grounds all decompose quickly and contribute nutrients that balance the carbon-heavy garden waste most people also add. Used correctly, kitchen waste significantly speeds up composting and produces a richer finished product. Used incorrectly — particularly the wrong materials in the wrong quantities — it attracts pests and creates an unpleasant smell.

What kitchen waste to compost

Freely compostable kitchen materials include: raw vegetable and fruit peelings and scraps; tea bags (paper ones without plastic mesh, or loose leaf tea); coffee grounds and paper coffee filters; eggshells (which add calcium and help regulate pH); stale or mouldy bread in small quantities; nutshells except walnut; paper bags and cardboard packaging that has not been coated or treated with plastic. These are all "green" nitrogen-rich materials that decompose quickly and benefit the heap.

What to avoid in a standard bin

Meat, fish, and bones should not go in an open garden compost bin — they attract rats, foxes, and other pests, and the smell during decomposition is very unpleasant. Cooked food in general is best avoided in an open heap for the same reason. Dairy products including cheese and yoghurt also attract pests. Cooking oils and fats should not be added — they coat other materials and prevent them absorbing moisture. These materials can be processed in a bokashi system or a sealed tumbler, but not in a standard open bin.

Managing high-nitrogen kitchen waste

Like grass clippings, kitchen waste is high in nitrogen and moisture and can turn slimy if added in large quantities without balancing carbon materials. Each time you add kitchen scraps, follow with a similar volume of cardboard torn into pieces, dry leaves, or shredded paper. Keep a container of cardboard scraps or dry material beside the bin for this purpose — it becomes a habit within a week and makes a significant difference to the quality and smell of the bin.