Almost every drop-off program accepts: fruits, vegetables, coffee grounds, tea bags, and eggshells. Almost none accept: plastic bags, pet waste, diapers, or non-food items. Meat, dairy, and compostable bags depend on the specific program.
What's Accepted at Almost Every Program
These items are accepted by virtually every food scrap drop-off program in the country, from municipal city programs to small community gardens:
- Fruits and vegetables — all parts including peels, cores, pits, and stems
- Coffee grounds and paper coffee filters
- Tea bags (paper, not plastic-mesh) and loose tea leaves
- Eggshells
- Bread, pasta, grains, rice, and cereal
- Nuts and nut shells (except walnut shells, which inhibit plant growth)
- Cut flowers and houseplants
What's Accepted Only at Some Programs
These items require you to check your specific program's accepted materials list:
Accepted at municipal / commercial programs
- Meat, poultry, and fish
- Bones and seafood shells
- Dairy products (milk, cheese, yogurt)
- Cooked and prepared foods
- Greasy food and oils
- Food-soiled paper
- BPI-certified compostable bags
Not accepted at community / garden programs
- Meat, poultry, fish, and bones
- Dairy products
- Oily or greasy food
- Many cooked foods
- Compostable foodware (many sites)
What's Rejected Everywhere
These items are not accepted at any food scrap drop-off program:
- Plastic bags — Even if labeled "biodegradable." If it's plastic, it doesn't belong in a compost bin.
- Pet waste — Dog and cat waste contains pathogens that aren't safely processed by most composting systems.
- Diapers and hygiene products — Pathogens and plastics.
- Recyclables — Glass, metal cans, and cardboard go in recycling, not compost bins.
- Non-food items — No paper towels (most programs), wrappers, packaging, or household waste.
The Compostable Bag Question
Programs are split on compostable bags. Chicago explicitly bans them (even BPI-certified ones). Kansas City accepts BPI-certified bags. Minneapolis requires compostable bags. The bag rules exist because of how material is handled at the processing facility — always check your specific program before buying bags.
Your First Trip — What to Bring
For your very first visit, bring these items in a sealed container:
- Vegetable and fruit scraps — always safe
- Coffee grounds — always safe
- Eggshells — always safe
- Leave meat and dairy at home until you've confirmed your program accepts them
After your first visit, you'll know the accepted materials list for your specific site. From there, expand to include everything your program accepts.
Download: Your First Compost Drop-Off Cheat Sheet
One page, printable, fridge-ready. What to bring, what not to bring, and how to prepare.
Download Free PDF