Is That Really Compostable?

Composting itself refers to the process by which organic waste can be broken down into compost—a soil-like material—using microbial activity. To create the right conditions for this activity, you need the proper mass, moisture level, and mix of carbon and nitrogen. That means food waste scraps need to be mixed with enough carbon-rich material, like leaves or straw or wood shavings, says Jean Bonhotal, director of the Cornell Waste Management Institute. Under the right conditions, the pile will heat up as the microbes break down organic material into compost.

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Large-scale systems—like the one you might use if your city collects food scraps or if you pay a service that picks up organic waste—are regulated by states and have to meet or exceed certain safety standards, according to Sherman. Because these systems are professionally managed and heat up to high temperatures, they're generally able to break down items you couldn't put into a typical home compost pile. These systems reach temperatures that will kill dangerous pathogens, which in a simple backyard compost pile, might hang around and ultimately end up in soil.

Home compost piles aren't typically as strictly managed and monitored as large-scale systems, so their temperatures are rarely as high. That's why most experts advise home composters to avoid harder-to-break-down materials (see below), things that could smell and attract animals, and anything that could carry pathogens you don't want in your compost.

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Vermicomposting, or breaking down organic waste using worms, is another way to dispose of your food scraps at home. A vermicomposting system is the most accessible for apartment dwellers because it's easiest to do indoors, Sherman says, where typical composting isn't possible. (Some apartment dwellers may have access to a pickup or dropoff compost system, too.) A small indoor vermicomposting system is slightly less flexible than a typical backyard composting system in terms of what it can handle. (See our guide to composting in an apartment.)

Read on for the details on what you can put into the compost depending on which compost system you use.

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