What we can and can't put in the compost bin
What we can put in the compost bin:
A good rule of thumb is that if it’s part of something edible, it should go in your kitchen compost bin.
- Fruit, citrus and vegetables
- Meat scraps and bones
- Dairy products
- Seafood, including shells
- Tea leaves and coffee grounds
- Egg shells
- Food leftovers and scraps
- Cakes and desserts
- Bread, pasta, cereal and rice
- Used paper towel, tissues and napkins (also a few non-edible items)
If you are using bags to hold your food waste, please ensure they are compostable (AS4736) and not biodegradable or plastic bags. This will ensure your food and green waste is composted successfully and will not contaminate the bin. Best to confirm with your local council that certified compostable bags are permitted. You can also use newspaper, paper towel or small paper bags, these items can go straight in your bin.
What we can’t put in the compost bin:
- Plastic (including any kind bio-degradable/ degradable)
- Glass or metal
- Nappies or baby wipes
- Vacuum dust
- Animal droppings
- Pet litter
- Cigarette butts or ashes
- Dishcloths
- Coffee pods
- Coffee cups (including compostable)
- Cutlery (including compostable or bio-degradable)
- Cling wrap, aluminium foil and baking paper
By composting correctly, we can be sure that our food and garden waste is turned into a high-quality compost which will be used on agriculture, parks and gardens.