What can (and cannot) be composted by Richland Farms?
Generally, organic waste (rubbish) is compostable, while inorganic waste (garbage or trash) isn't. This means waste that was once (or has come from) a living thing can be composted—including food, plants, and waste from our bodies (e.g., hair).
The types of rubbish that can be composted depend on many factors. You'll notice this list is a bit different than most home composting lists. That's because our compost farm can process more types of rubbish than a traditional backyard bin or heap.
In general, here are some common examples of what you can supply for composting—and what should stay out. You'll find more value in focusing on the non-compostable list with the understanding that everything else that's organic can be sent along for composting!
Due to public health regulations, we cannot accept uncooked meats (frozen, fresh, or thawed); uncooked fish, crawfish, freshwater mollusks or eels; or uncooked seafoods.
We also cannot accept food waste from hospitals and other medical facilities where communicable diseases may be present.
For safety reasons, we generally ask for liquids to be "drain disposed."
❌ Do NOT compost
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Tree debris and brush that has not been ground or chipped
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Uncooked meats, fish, and seafoods (fresh, frozen, or thawed)
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Uncooked egg yolk and white
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Food waste from a hospital or medical facility where communicable diseases may be present
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Waxed and parchment papers (including waxed milk and juice cartons)
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Generally anything containing an adhesive
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Produce stickers
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Diseased plants
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Clam, oyster, snail, and mollusk shells
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Turtle shells
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Chemically treated or inorganically fertilized yard clippings (within the last eight weeks)
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Diapers and wipes
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Bandages, wound dressings, and casts
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Medical waste
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Candles
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Aluminum foil
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Used feminine hygiene products
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Synthetic soaps
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Detergents (liquid or powder form)
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Cellophane
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Styrofoam
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Pressure, chemically, or creosote treated lumber
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Produce netting
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Filtered cigarettes (okay to recycle after removal of filter)
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Unused charcoal briquettes with lighter fluid added
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Colored paper
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Wrapping paper
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Glossy bows and ribbons
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Paper with Sharpie markings
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Paper (including newspaper) with color printing
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Glossy or coated paper
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Deceased animals and birds
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Dog poo, cat poo, and used kitty litter
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Synthetic (inorganic) fertilizers
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Synthetic sponges
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Poisonous plant cuttings (e.g., poison ivy, poison oak, certain mushrooms)
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Bricks
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Cinder blocks
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Topsoil
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Sand
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Gravel
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Drywall and plaster
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Concrete, cement, and mortar
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Synthetic insulation materials
✅ DO compost
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Tree debris and brush that has been ground or chipped
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Fruit and vegetable scraps/peels
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Rotten or moldy food
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Egg shells
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Baked goods
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Pantry items (remove original container)
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Coffee grounds (drain in a bowl on a paper towel for several hours + Compost µ-Starter)
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Paper coffee filters
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Tea bags
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Rinds and husks
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Cooked meat scraps
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Cooked fish bodies, scales, and heads
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Cooked lobster, crab, shrimp, and crayfish shells
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Nuts and their shells
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Grains
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Paper towels and tubes
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Dairy products
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Cardboard egg cartons
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Burlap sacks (ripped or shredded into strips)
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Compostable utensils made by Responsible™️ Products
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Biodegradable produce bags made by Responsible™️ Products
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Compostable napkins made by Responsible™️ Products
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Brown paper shopping bags (ripped or shredded into strips)
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Feathers
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Animal hides and skins (must be scraped clean (fleshed) and ground or cut into strips)
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Paper
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Plain cardboard (with tape and shipping labels removed, bundle and set beside tote)
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Cotton balls and Q-Tips
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Natural fabric dryer lint
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Newspaper
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Magazines (remove both covers and adhesive binding, bundle and set beside tote)
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Used matches
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Natural loofah sponges
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Nail clippings (unpainted)
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Hair from hairbrush
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Expired or unused pet food (removed from packaging)
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Alfalfa pellets and hay
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Straw
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Wine corks
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Wool and cotton clothing / fabric
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Unfiltered cigarettes, cigars, and pipe tobacco
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Pencil shavings
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Brown craft paper
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Bamboo products
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Grass clippings
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Spent wood mulch
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Twigs and leaves (stripped from branches and bagged in paper)
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Dry biochar, fireplace, firepit, and grill ashes (bagged in paper)
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Flowers
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Pine needles and cones
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Natural ropes and twines
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Sawdust
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Wood shavings
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Leaves
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Peat pots
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Hard boiled Easter eggs
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Christmas trees and greenery
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Pumpkins
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Corn shocks and cobs
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Straw bales
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Lumber and wood strips
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Wooden pallets made from untreated wood and without glues (shredded and nails decontaminated)
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Moldy hay and silage
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Animal bedding