Recycle Recycle Reuse ReuseUpcycle UpcycleCompost CompostDispose Dispose

Compost – Items that can be composted should be able to break down into carbon dioxide, water, inorganic compounds, and biomass at a rate similar to paper. They should leave no toxic residue and within 90 days should have disintegrated to the extent that the original product is no longer distinguishable.  The items on this page can be composted either in a home composter if available or can be sent to industrial composting at council refuse collecting centres.

Stuff you can compost

Garden Waste:
Dead plants
Extra potting soil
Grass clippings
Leaves
Old cotton or leather gloves
Peat moss
Pine needles
Pruning debris, twigs and branches
Rock dust
Sawdust
Seaweed
Straw and hay
Wood chips
Kitchen Scraps:
Fresh or rotten produce including peelings, rinds, cores, stems, and leaves
Breads, grains, cereals, and flours
Canned fruits and vegetables
Coffee grounds and paper filters
Corn cobs
Crackers and pasta
Egg shells
Fish bones and skins (if well buried)
Freezer-burned fruits and vegetables
Ground-up animal bones
Herbs and spices
Gelatin
Jams and preserves
Milk, yogurt, and ice cream (although these may attract hungry animals)
Nut shells and husks
Paperboard (such as cereal and pasta boxes)
Popcorn
Rice
Seafood shells
Shredded paper towels and napkins
Soy products
Tea bags and loose tea
Toothpicks
Wine and beer
Cork wine corks
Wooden skewers
Household Waste:
Compostable forks, cups, plates, etc (look for these in the store!)
Cotton balls
Cotton swabs (if made of paper)
Crumbs and dustpan contents
Crushed seashells
Dead bugs
Dried flowers and pot-pourri
Dryer lint
Felt
Fireplace ashes (in small amounts)
Floral arrangements
Hair clippings (also good in the garden as pest repellent)
Houseplant trimmings and old potting soil
Tissue
Leather
Loofah sponges
Matches
Nail clippings
Rope (natural fibre)
Shavings from your pencil sharpener
Vacuum bag dust
White glue and paste
Wool, linen and cotton
Wreaths, garland, and Christmas trees (real, not artificial)
Paper: (Shred these paper items and add to your compost pile)
Business cards
Cardboard
Egg cartons
Envelopes (remove plastic windows)
Muffin and cupcake cases
Newspaper
Office paper
Paper plates (unwaxed)
Paperboard (such as cereal boxes, toilet paper rolls, etc.)
Post-It Notes
Ticket stubs
Pet and Animal Waste:
Dry pet food
Feathers
Manure from herbivores (cows, horses, rabbits, etc)
Pet hair
Wood chips from pet cages

Garden waste

Posted: March 18, 2016

Garden waste may be collected by your council is taken to a centralised composting site where it is made into a soil conditioner.

Cellophane

Posted: June 3, 2016

Cellophane is one of the oldest, clear packaging materials used to pack food which, unlike man-made plastic polymers, which are largely derived from petroleum, cellophane is a natural polymer made from cellulose, a component of plants & trees.

Barbecue Ash

Posted: March 11, 2016

Charcoal ash contains potash, an important nutrient for some plants and it’s a great way to increase the pH of the soil.