Composting at home can be easy, especially when you know how many materials there are readily available for you to get started! Hi, I’m Marion from Kodiak, Alaska and I have been gardening organically for nearly 40 years– and I’ve made a lot of compost along the way!

In my Youtube channel and blog, I share tons of information, tips, resources, and my experiences gardening year round in Alaska. In this blog post, I’ve compiled and organized into sections the mightiest list of compost materials on the internet! 

Before we begin, here’s a quick list of resources for you to bookmark and return back to:

Best composting resources

• UpBeet Gardener YouTube channel
• Library of 21 tip sheets
• Get Finished Compost in 6 Weeks With These DIY Compost Bins 
• Composting tips for beginners

Quick tips for composting at home

For all beginners to composting, here are some quick and easy tips to get you going. 

First, only add food scraps to the center of the pile, and only during the first 2 weeks of the composting process! This helps maintain the necessary heat for decomposition. Balance is key, so make sure to alternate layers of green and brown materials that are rich in carbon and nitrogen.

This balance ensures that your compost pile remains active and breaks down efficiently. Regularly turning your compost pile will also help aerate it, speeding up the decomposition process. Lastly, keep your compost moist but not too wet! It should feel somewhat like a damp sponge. 

How about a bonus tip? Add this to your reading list: How to make compost

Materials you can use for composting

You can use practically any organic material or organic matter. The trick is using materials that will break down quickly, or knowing how and when to place them in the compost bin so that they do!

Save this handy compost materials chart:

Kitchen scraps

1. Spoiled or moldy food
2. Egg shells
3. Leftover bits of fruits or vegetables, like seeds, leaves, skins, and stalks
4. Tea bags (though I prefer no string-and-tag!)
5. Leftover meat and seafood scraps
6. Coffee grounds, including leftover coffee
7. That weird thing you found in the back of your fridge

Yard waste

1. Grass clippings
2. Dried leaves
3. Wood chips or sawdust
4. Fallen branches or sticks (shredded)
5. Hay
6. Straw
7. Manure (chicken, goat, or horse… just to name a few!)
8. Weeds from your garden
9. Garden trimmings
10. Leftover garden plants such as potato plants

Other compost material opportunities

1. Hair and fur
2. Cardboard (but not wax-coated)
3. Paper
4. Newspaper
5. Cotton clothing 
6. Seaweed (kelp)
7. Wood ash (small amounts only)
8. Paper towels and/or napkins

Your composting questions, answered

What is the best composting material?

There is no single best ingredient for making compost. It’s all about understanding the science and art of how compost works, adding a blend of ingredients, and turning it on a schedule! The most commonly used compost ingredients are green or brown materials (as in, nitrogen-rich and carbohydrates, or carbon) leftover from kitchen or yard waste.

What can I do with compost?

If you have enough compost, you pretty much have enough of everything! Compost makes a fantastic soil amendment for your garden and yard. It’s also a really nice way of giving back to the earth.

Can I compost animal waste like dog or cat poop?

No, it's not recommended to compost dog or cat poop. It can contain pathogens that are harmful to humans and other animals. Instead, dispose of it through a waste service or use a specialized pet waste composting system.