Eggs: Almost Always Yes. Dairy: Depends on the Program.

Eggshells are accepted universally. Whole eggs (cracked or intact) and cooked egg products are generally accepted at municipal programs and some community drop-offs. Dairy products (milk, cheese, yogurt, butter) follow the same rules as meat — municipal programs that use commercial facilities accept them; community garden programs do not.

Eggshells

Eggshells are universally accepted at every type of food scrap program — municipal, community garden, farmers market, and private. They add calcium to finished compost and break down readily. There's no program that rejects eggshells.

Whole Eggs and Cooked Eggs

Cracked, spoiled, or whole eggs and cooked egg dishes (scrambled eggs, omelets, egg salad) are accepted at municipal programs that go to commercial facilities. Community garden programs often include eggs in the same category as dairy — accepted by some, excluded by others. Check your specific program.

Dairy Products

Milk, cheese, yogurt, butter, cream, and similar products are accepted at:

  • Chicago's citywide food scrap program
  • Kansas City's compost program
  • Washington DC's staffed events and smart bins
  • NYC's smart composting bins (not community garden drop-offs)
  • Portland OR curbside and drop-off

Dairy is excluded at most community garden programs and smaller nonprofit drop-offs for the same reason as meat — it requires industrial-scale composting to break down without attracting pests.

Practical Storage Tip for Dairy Scraps

Dairy products smell quickly at room temperature. If you're composting dairy, freeze it immediately and bring it frozen to the drop-off site. Don't let dairy scraps sit in a countertop caddy — even a sealed one — for more than a day or two in warm weather.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, at programs that accept dairy. Expired or spoiled dairy is accepted the same as fresh. Freeze it to prevent odor and bring it to a municipal drop-off that accepts dairy products. Don't pour liquid milk into a solid compost bin — seal it in a container or freeze it first.
Plant-based milk alternatives (oat milk, almond milk, soy milk) are accepted at most programs because they're plant-based and break down similarly to vegetable matter. Coffee creamer and non-dairy creamers fall in a gray area — they're often accepted at municipal programs. Check your program's specific guidance.