FAQs • Media Borough, PA • CivicEngage

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Composting - What Can Be Composted

1. Can you please explain more about what constitutes food scraps?: Please look at the following link, which lists the food scraps acceptable in the program on the What Can I Compost page.

2. Are acceptable food scraps with a little bit of dairy products on them (like cheese) okay or no skip it since there’s some dairy on it?: A small amount of dairy is fine. Thanks for asking first!

3. I was wondering if spent potting soil from indoor plants is allowed in the buckets?: Yes, spent potting soil is fine.

4. Is it okay to put seeds and pits in the compost?: 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!

5. We have a very mature black walnut tree that drops hundreds of seeds each fall. Could they be picked up for compost?: Yes, throw those seeds in the bucket! They are fine.

6. Are All tea bags and coffee filters acceptable in the compost program? Or only ones labeled specifically as compostable?: 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).

7. Say, if we can compost coffee filters, can we also compost plain, white paper napkins without any dyes or patterns?: 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.

8. How about pizza boxes?: 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.

9. My nut cheese is non-dairy & plant based cheese - can I compost nut cheese?: Nut cheese, if it is entirely plant-based, is fine.

11. I know eggshells are ok, but what about eggs? If a raw egg spills on the floor can I pop the mess in the compost bucket? Can I put in scrambled eggs?: Yes, in small amounts.

13. Do you accept compostable takeout containers? Should I break them up before putting them in?: 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.

14. Does bread have to be plain or can it have mayo or pb&j on it?: Bread can have pb&j on it. Mayo and other oils are also ok.

17. How about pumpkins decorated with washable fingerpaint?: Yes, they are fine.

18. Moldy and rotted pumpkins?: Already on their way to being composted. Absolutely!

20. I am disposing of my romain lettuce after the CDC recommendation not to eat it (per late-2018 E coli warning) - can I put heads of romaine lettuce in the compost bucket?: Yes, it is fine for our composting. The high-temperature compost process used at Kitchen Harvest would kill any possible E. coli present.

21. What happens to the fruit label stickers, many of which seem to be plastic?: 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.

22. Can we include dog or cat fur sheddings in their compost? Human hair from home haircuts?: Yes, hair is okay.

24. I understand it is poisonous to some animals so I wanted to check to see if it can go in the bucket - can I put a poinsettia plant in the compost?: Yes, you can. Thanks for asking first!

25. I was wondering if we are able to compost Number 60 cotton and or 2% non-gmo cotton?: 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.

26. We have several eco-friendly ice packs that say the “gel is 100% biodegradable, non-toxic and made from food grade ingredients”; before putting this in my bucket, I wanted to check if it was okay?: Yes. If it says 100% biodegradable or compostable, it is okay with Kitchen Harvest.

27. Are cellulose sponges compostable in our program?: 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.

28. How about compostable coffee pods (Nespresso, Keurig, etc.)?: If the box says they are fully compostable, then yes, they are fine.