The materials you add to your compost pile or bin are food for the organisms that actually make the compost. It's helpful to categorize these materials based on their carbon nitrogen ratio. All living things on earth have both nitrogen and carbon in them. Those materials with a ratio below 30, or 30 parts carbon to 1 part nitrogen are considered high nitrogen inputs and are called greens. Those with higher ratios are high carbon browns.
Most of us get the lion's share of our material from either the yard or the kitchen.
- Yard and Garden Waste
- grass clippings, green weeds, and most garden trimming are greens
- fall leaves, dead dried plants are browns
- Kitchen Waste
- food waste including fruits and vegetables as well as meat and dairy leftovers would all count as greens. It is often recommended that meat, fish and dairy be left out of the compost, but with care you can compost them.
- dirty paper napkins, used kleenex, the rolls from toilet paper and paper towels, as well as shredded paper from the home office can make up part of the compost browns.
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