Frequently Asked Questions

Please look at the following link, which lists the food scraps acceptable in the program on the What Can I Compost page.

A small amount of dairy is fine.  Thanks for asking first!

Yes, spent potting soil is fine.

Yes, pits and seeds (peach, avocado, olive, etc.) are fine. Not all composting is the same. Our compost naturally gets to very high temperatures for long periods of time making seeds in the pile not viable. Everything gets broken down. Backyard piles normally can't achieve this which is likely why you thought you couldn't put them in. Again, not all composting methods, maintenance and mixes are the same, so thanks for asking first!

Yes, throw those seeds in the bucket!  They are fine.

Let's go with all paper or compostable tea bags and coffee filters that are acceptable for our composting method regardless of color or bleach.  If you don't think it will rot or you see plastic-like material, then no thank you. (Consider switching to unbleached and non-plastic beverage materials).

Yes, you can compost plain white paper napkins and paper towels in small quantities if they are soiled with food and cannot go into recycling.  But if they are not soiled, best to do it through the regular recycling program.

Our compost farm loves pizza boxes.  The more the merrier.  Don’t try to cram them into your yellow bucket, though.  You can either stack them next to your bucket or put them in your yard waste bag.

Nut cheese, if it is entirely plant-based, is fine.

Yes. Tofu is permissible.

Yes, in small amounts.

Yes, but real cork only.

Compostable takeout containers are fine for collection.  Break them up if you need to for space in the bucket, but otherwise, it is not necessary.

Bread can have pb&j on it. Mayo and other oils are also ok.

Sure, but no wrappers.

Yes (but no wrappers)!

Yes, they are fine.

Already on their way to being composted. Absolutely!

Yes!

Yes, it is fine for our composting.  The high-temperature compost process used at Kitchen Harvest would kill any possible E. coli present.

Thank you!  We appreciate folks trying to peel off the plastic ones.  Shiny paper one's compost okay.  But, yes, we do occasionally end up with a few stickers here and there in our finished compost because they are small enough to get through our screen too.

Yes, hair is okay.

Yes, but not the floral foam.

Yes, you can. Thanks for asking first!

One hundred % cotton and cardboard Q-tips and cotton balls can be tossed into your compost bin and will get broken down by microorganisms and bacteria just like everything else.

Yes.  If it says 100% biodegradable or compostable, it is okay with Kitchen Harvest.

Trader Joe's says their Pop-Up Sponges are compostable. For other sponges, if they are really cellulose - i.e., made from wood pulp, they are fine. But If you are not sure, don't throw them in.

If the box says they are fully compostable, then yes, they are fine.