Reference
What goes in: a table of materials by method
Close to seventy materials, each marked green or brown and sorted by what a slow pile, hot pile, worm bin, bokashi bucket, trench and drop-off program takes. One default per row, with the source.
Each row is one material. The columns say what this manual's default is for each method, and the Source column links the pages behind the row. The lists are each source's convention for a home method, and they differ; where they do, the row gives this manual's default and says "sources differ; see What goes in", where the comparison sits under Go deeper. Convention
Read the cells this way. Yes means the sources accept it by default. Small amounts means accepted in limited quantity or with care, as the note says. No means the sources leave it out of that method. Not covered means the sources for that method do not say; this manual does not guess. In the Drop-off column, every program sets its own list, so the cell says Ask your program, and New York City's pages are quoted as one example where they say something. The Drop-off filter button keeps rows that example program accepts. Green or brown follows the majority of the sources; "Neither" marks items that are not a green or a brown, and "Both" marks one where the sources split.
| Item | Green or brown | Slow pile | Hot pile | Worm bin | Bokashi | Trench | Drop-off | Note | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fruit and vegetable scraps (raw) | Green | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Ask your program (NYC: accepted) | The default green. Pits and eggshells may remain in finished compost; EPA says to screen them out. | EPA, Composting at Home, NC State AG-473-18, WSU Kitsap bokashi, USask trench, NYC drop-off page |
| Citrus peels and fruit | Green | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Ask your program (NYC: accepted) | Sources differ; see What goes in. UF lists citrus as compostable, cut in half and mixed with browns. NC State says an outdoor bin can take it and a worm bin cannot; EPA and Oregon State tell worm bin users to leave it out; NYC says to avoid large amounts. The bokashi and trench sources list fruit and vegetable scraps without singling out citrus. Our default for a worm bin: leave it out. | UF Can I Compost It, NC State handbook, NC State AG-473-18, Oregon State EM 9034, NYC worm bin brochure, EPA, Composting at Home |
| Onions and garlic | Green | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Ask your program (NYC: accepted) | EPA, NC State and Oregon State tell worm bin users to avoid them. NC State says an outdoor bin can take them. The bokashi and trench sources list vegetable scraps without singling these out. | EPA, Composting at Home, NC State handbook, NC State AG-473-18, Oregon State EM 9034 |
| Banana peels, melon rinds and pumpkin | Green | Yes | Yes | Small amounts | Yes | Yes | Ask your program (NYC: accepted) | In a worm bin, Oregon State links too many wet, nitrogen-rich scraps such as banana peels and melon to fruit flies: bury them, and freeze fruit first. NC State says red wigglers like cantaloupe, watermelon and pumpkin and advises mixing wet food with bedding. | Oregon State EM 9034, NC State AG-473-18, NYC worm bin brochure |
| Coffee grounds and paper filters | Green | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Ask your program (NYC: accepted) | Grounds with their paper filter. Cornell's table gives a C:N ratio of about 20:1, which is why they count as a green. | EPA, Composting at Home, NC State AG-473-18, USask bokashi, USask trench, NYC drop-off page, Cornell chemistry |
| Tea bags (paper, no staples) and loose tea | Green | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Ask your program (NYC: accepted) | EPA allows paper tea bags with no staples. If you are not sure what a bag is made of, open it and use the leaves. | EPA, Composting at Home, Maryland how-to, NC State AG-473-18, USask bokashi, USask trench, NYC drop-off page |
| Tea bags that contain plastic | Neither | No | No | No | No | No | Ask your program | Maryland says many tea bags contain plastic: open the bag, use the leaves, and put the bag in the trash. | Maryland how-to |
| Eggshells | Green | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Ask your program (NYC: accepted) | Crush them. They break down slowly and may be screened out of the finished compost. Worm bin sources use them as grit. | EPA, Composting at Home, UC Orange County worms, DC DOEE guide, USask bokashi, USask trench, NYC drop-off page |
| Bread, cereal and crackers | Green | Small amounts | Small amounts | Not covered | Yes | Yes | Ask your program (NYC: bread accepted) | Sources differ; see What goes in. UF lists bread and cereal as compostable, EPA says small amounts of cooked food are fine, and Oregon State lists bread and grains among the foods that attract animals. Nebraska's trench page lists bakery products. Our default: small amounts, buried and covered. | UF Can I Compost It, EPA, Composting at Home, Oregon State troubleshooting, Nebraska trench, USask bokashi, NYC drop-off page |
| Rice, pasta and other cooked grains | Green | Small amounts | Small amounts | Not covered | Yes | Yes | Ask your program (NYC: accepted) | Same disagreement as bread; see What goes in. USask lists grain-based products for bokashi and for trenches. NYC's drop-off page names rice and pasta. | EPA, Composting at Home, Oregon State troubleshooting, USask bokashi, USask trench, NYC drop-off page |
| Cooked food and leftovers (no meat or dairy) | Green | Small amounts | Small amounts | No | Yes | Not covered | Ask your program | EPA says small amounts of cooked food are fine in a backyard pile, with a note that cooked food can attract animals. NYC's worm bin brochure says to avoid food cooked with oil. Bokashi accepts cooked food. | EPA, Composting at Home, NYC worm bin brochure, WSU Kitsap bokashi, RDCK bokashi sheet |
| Meat and poultry | Neither | No | No | No | Yes | No | Ask your program (NYC: smart bins yes; most community sites no) | Keep out of backyard piles, worm bins and trenches. Bokashi takes it. In bear country, Vermont's wildlife agency says not to add meat scraps or bones to a compost system. See what stays out. | EPA, Composting at Home, Oregon State EM 9034, WSU Kitsap bokashi, RDCK bokashi sheet, USask trench, NYC drop-off page, Vermont Fish & Wildlife |
| Fish and seafood scraps | Neither | No | No | No | Not covered | No | Ask your program | Sources differ on trenches: Maryland says fish and crab waste belong in a trench only, and UF says buried fish scraps are fine, while USask and Nebraska exclude meat and bones from trenches. Our default: leave out of trenches too. See what stays out. | EPA, Composting at Home, Oregon State EM 9034, Maryland how-to, UF Can I Compost It, USask trench, Nebraska trench |
| Crab and shrimp shells, rinsed | Neither | Small amounts | Small amounts | Not covered | Not covered | Small amounts | Ask your program | NC State lists rinsed crustacean shells as compostable. Maryland limits crab waste to a trench. They break down slowly. | NC State handbook, Maryland how-to |
| Bones | Neither | No | No | No | Small amounts | No | Ask your program (NYC: smart bins yes; most community sites no) | Bokashi sources list small bones only. Large bones do not break down in a home pile. | EPA, Composting at Home, WSU Kitsap bokashi, NC State Beaufort bokashi, USask trench, NYC drop-off page |
| Dairy (milk, yogurt, sour cream) | Neither | No | No | No | Yes | No | Ask your program (NYC: smart bins yes; most community sites no) | Oregon State says dairy can cause anaerobic conditions and odors in a worm bin. Bokashi accepts dairy; soups and free liquids are not accepted. | EPA, Composting at Home, Oregon State EM 9034, WSU Kitsap bokashi, USask trench, NYC drop-off page |
| Cheese | Neither | No | No | No | Yes | No | Ask your program (NYC: smart bins yes; most community sites no) | Nebraska names cheese as a fatty food that attracts wildlife, rodents, dogs, cats or flies in a trench. | EPA, Composting at Home, Maryland how-to, Nebraska trench, WSU Kitsap bokashi, Oregon State EM 9034 |
| Whole or raw eggs (not shells) | Neither | No | No | No | Not covered | Not covered | Ask your program | NC State and Minnesota exclude eggs from compost piles; Minnesota says whole eggs. Eggshells are a separate row. | NC State handbook, Minnesota home gardens |
| Cooking oil, fat and grease | Neither | No | No | No | No | No | Ask your program (NYC: smart bins yes; most community sites no) | Sources differ on bokashi: RDCK accepts oils, while WSU Kitsap does not accept free liquids, soups or sauces. Our default: leave oils out. Fats break down slowly (Missouri). | EPA, Composting at Home, NYC worm bin brochure, USask trench, WSU Kitsap bokashi, RDCK bokashi sheet, Missouri G6956 |
| Mayonnaise, salad dressing and peanut butter | Neither | No | No | No | No | No | Ask your program | Maryland and UF exclude them; UF says they are hard to degrade. Nebraska names salad dressing among the foods to keep out of a trench. EPA tells worm bin users to avoid greasy foods. | Maryland how-to, UF Can I Compost It, Nebraska trench, EPA, Composting at Home |
| Nut shells (not walnut) | Brown | Yes | Yes | Not covered | Not covered | Not covered | Ask your program | Slow to break down (Oregon State). NC State lists nut shells other than walnut as compostable. | NC State handbook, Oregon State troubleshooting |
| Pizza boxes and greasy paper plates | Brown | Not covered | Not covered | Not covered | Not covered | Not covered | Ask your program (NYC curbside and smart bins accept greasy uncoated paper plates and pizza boxes) | No home-composting source read addresses grease on cardboard. EPA lists cardboard without wax, tape or glue. Whether a program accepts them is the program's answer. | NYC drop-off page, NYC curbside page, EPA, Composting at Home |
| Paper towels and napkins used only for food | Brown | Small amounts | Small amounts | Not covered | Not covered | Not covered | Ask your program (NYC: food-soiled paper accepted) | Vermont's wildlife agency lists paper towels among browns. One source for a home pile; NC State excludes used facial and toilet tissue (next row). | Vermont Fish & Wildlife, NC State handbook, NYC curbside page |
| Used facial or toilet tissue | Neither | No | No | Not covered | Not covered | Not covered | Ask your program | NC State excludes it because it may carry pathogens. | NC State handbook |
| Fresh grass clippings | Green | Yes | Yes | Not covered | Not covered | Yes | Ask your program (NYC: yard waste accepted) | Add in thin layers mixed with bulky browns so the clippings do not mat; UF says green layers should be no more than 1 to 2 inches. Vermont lists clippings among browns; most sources list them as greens. If the lawn was treated with a persistent herbicide, see the herbicide check. | UF problem materials, NC State handbook, USask trench, Vermont Fish & Wildlife, NYC drop-off page |
| Maple leaves | Brown | Yes | Yes | Not covered | Not covered | Not covered | Ask your program (NYC: leaf waste accepted) | NC State puts maple leaves near 30:1 carbon to nitrogen, the middle of the range. Shredded leaves break down faster (NC State, Penn State). | NC State AG-791, Penn State leaves, NYC drop-off page |
| Oak leaves | Brown | Yes | Yes | Not covered | Not covered | Not covered | Ask your program (NYC: leaf waste accepted) | NC State puts oak leaves at about 60:1, so they break down more slowly. Shred them. | NC State AG-791, Penn State leaves, NYC drop-off page |
| Dry leaves, other kinds | Brown | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not covered | Not covered | Ask your program (NYC: leaf waste accepted) | The default brown. Decaying leaves also work as worm bin bedding (NC State). Leaves, grass and yard covers storing them. | EPA, Composting at Home, NC State AG-473-18, Penn State leaves, NYC drop-off page |
| Pine needles | Brown | Small amounts | Small amounts | Not covered | Not covered | Not covered | Ask your program | Sources differ; see What goes in. NC State's handbook lists them as not for piles because the waxy coating resists decay; Clemson, Maryland and UF list them as compostable. A NC State county agent says pine needle mulch acidifies soil no more than other mulches. Our default: small amounts, since they are slow. | NC State handbook, Clemson HGIC 1600, Maryland how-to, UF Can I Compost It, NC State pine needles |
| Black walnut leaves and twigs | Brown | No | Small amounts | Not covered | Not covered | Not covered | Ask your program | Sources differ; see What goes in. NC State lists them as not for piles. Illinois says walnut leaves must be thoroughly composted before the compost goes on a garden. Oregon State's answer says compost made with them can go on a vegetable garden because juglone breaks down in a well-managed pile, best in one that heats. Our default: only in a pile that heats. | NC State handbook, Illinois questions, Oregon State walnut leaves |
| Garden trimmings, soft (healthy plants) | Green | Yes | Yes | Not covered | Not covered | Yes | Ask your program (NYC: yard waste accepted) | Cut into small pieces. Penn State lists plant cuttings among greens. USask lists green plants for trenches. | Penn State home composting, USask trench, NYC drop-off page |
| Plant stalks, corn stalks and dry vines | Brown | Yes | Yes | Not covered | Not covered | Not covered | Ask your program (NYC: yard waste accepted) | EPA lists stalks and twigs among browns. Chop them; large stalks break down slowly (Missouri gives corn stalks at about 60:1). | EPA, Composting at Home, Missouri G6956, NYC drop-off page |
| Houseplant trimmings and cut flowers (healthy) | Green | Yes | Yes | Not covered | Not covered | Not covered | Ask your program (NYC: houseplants and flowers accepted) | Penn State lists plant cuttings among greens. NYC's drop-off page lists houseplants and flowers. Leave out anything diseased or pest-infested. | Penn State home composting, NYC drop-off page, NYC curbside page |
| Weeds with no seed heads and no storage roots | Green | Yes | Yes | Not covered | Not covered | Yes | Ask your program (NYC: yard waste accepted) | Pull weeds before they set seed. USask lists green plants for trenches. | Penn State home composting, Oregon State troubleshooting, USask trench, NYC drop-off page |
| Weeds with seed heads | Green | No | No | Not covered | Not covered | Not covered | Ask your program | Sources differ; see What goes in. Clemson says to discard them; NC State and EPA exclude them; Missouri says they are acceptable only if the pile is thoroughly turned or left unused for several years; Illinois says weeds are not a problem in piles that heat properly; UF marks them maybe. Our default: leave them out unless your log shows the pile held its heat. | Clemson HGIC 1600, NC State handbook, EPA, Composting at Home, Missouri G6956, Illinois questions, UF Can I Compost It |
| Rooted perennial weeds (bindweed, quackgrass, nutsedge, dock) | Green | No | No | Not covered | Not covered | Not covered | Ask your program | NC State names dock, alligator weed and Bermuda grass. Clemson says weeds with storage roots should be sun-dried first. Penn State excludes weeds that regrow from root or stem cuttings. | NC State handbook, Clemson HGIC 1600, Penn State home composting |
| Diseased or pest-infested plants | Neither | No | No | Not covered | Not covered | Not covered | Ask your program | EPA, NC State and Penn State exclude them. Missouri says they are acceptable only if the pile is thoroughly turned or left unused for several years. Our default: leave them out. | EPA, Composting at Home, NC State handbook, Penn State home composting, Missouri G6956 |
| Woody prunings and twigs | Brown | Small amounts | Small amounts | Not covered | Not covered | Not covered | Ask your program (NYC: twigs and branches accepted when bundled) | Cut to pieces under about 2 inches (Texas A&M). Wood is slow to break down; WSU suggests chips are better used as mulch (Leaves, grass and yard). | EPA, Composting at Home, Texas A&M chapter 2, WSU wood chips, NYC curbside page |
| Wood chips (untreated) | Brown | Yes | Yes | Not covered | Not covered | Not covered | Ask your program | EPA lists untreated wood chips among browns. WSU calls them slow decomposers. Treated wood is a separate row. | EPA, Composting at Home, WSU wood chips |
| Sawdust from untreated wood | Brown | Small amounts | Small amounts | Not covered | Small amounts | Not covered | Ask your program | Needs extra nitrogen (Minnesota, Illinois). USask uses a layer of dry sawdust at the bottom of a bokashi bucket to absorb liquid. Sawdust from treated lumber is a separate row. | Minnesota home gardens, Illinois questions, UF Can I Compost It, USask bokashi |
| Shredded office paper (non-glossy, uncolored) | Brown | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not covered | Not covered | Ask your program | EPA lists shredded non-glossy, uncolored paper. NC State lists office paper as worm bin bedding. | EPA, Composting at Home, NC State AG-473-18, Illinois How to Begin |
| Newspaper (black and white) | Brown | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not covered | Not covered | Ask your program | Shred it. It breaks down slowly (Cornell). NC State lists shredded black-and-white newspaper as worm bedding. | Minnesota home gardens, NC State AG-473-18, Cornell chemistry |
| Plain cardboard (no wax, tape or glue) | Brown | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not covered | Not covered | Ask your program | Tear or shred it and remove tape. NC State lists cardboard as worm bedding. | EPA, Composting at Home, NC State AG-473-18 |
| Plain paper bags | Brown | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not covered | Not covered | Ask your program | NC State lists paper bags as worm bedding. EPA lists non-glossy paper for piles. | NC State AG-473-18, EPA, Composting at Home |
| Glossy or colored paper | Neither | No | No | No | Not covered | Not covered | Ask your program | EPA, Illinois and UF exclude glossy and heavily colored paper. NC State says no glossy paper in a worm bin. | EPA, Composting at Home, Illinois How to Begin, UF Can I Compost It, NC State AG-473-18 |
| Waxed or coated cardboard and paper | Neither | No | No | Not covered | Not covered | Not covered | Ask your program | EPA allows cardboard without wax, tape or glue. NC State excludes heavily coated paper. | EPA, Composting at Home, NC State handbook |
| Produce stickers | Neither | No | No | Not covered | Not covered | Not covered | Ask your program | EPA lists them to avoid and says to screen them out of finished compost. | EPA, Composting at Home |
| Dryer lint | Neither | No | No | Not covered | Not covered | Not covered | Ask your program | Sources differ; see What goes in. EPA lists dryer lint to avoid, with no reason given. NC State lists lint from natural fabrics as compostable. Our default: leave it out, since you cannot tell the fabric. | EPA, Composting at Home, NC State handbook |
| Hair | Neither | Small amounts | Small amounts | Not covered | Not covered | Not covered | Ask your program | UF lists hair as compostable and says it may be slow to degrade. One source. | UF Can I Compost It |
| Wood ash (untreated wood only) | Neither | Small amounts | Small amounts | Not covered | Not covered | Not covered | Ask your program | Sources differ; see What goes in. NC State allows a handful or two; Minnesota allows small amounts; Maryland excludes large amounts; UF marks it maybe; EPA does not mention it. Do not use ash from treated wood, garbage or plastics (Wisconsin). | NC State handbook, Minnesota home gardens, Maryland how-to, UF Can I Compost It, Wisconsin wood ash |
| Charcoal and coal ash | Neither | No | No | Not covered | Not covered | Not covered | Ask your program | NC State: resistant to decay and may contain substances harmful to plants. No source read addresses briquette ash directly. | NC State handbook |
| Treated, painted or pressure-treated wood, its sawdust and its ash | Neither | No | No | No | No | No | Ask your program | EPA, NC State, UF and Illinois exclude it. EPA says CCA-treated wood should not be reused as mulch or burned in a residential setting. | EPA, Composting at Home, NC State handbook, UF Can I Compost It, Illinois questions, EPA on CCA wood |
| Garden lime | Neither | No | No | Not covered | Not covered | Not covered | Ask your program | Maryland says to avoid adding lime because it causes ammonia loss. | Maryland how-to |
| Horse and cow manure | Green | Yes | Yes | Not covered | Not covered | Not covered | Ask your program | Plant-eating animals only. Clemson does not recommend manure in a home pile; Penn State, Illinois and NC State list it. It can carry persistent herbicides from treated hay and grazing: see the herbicide check and manure. | Penn State manure, Illinois How to Begin, NC State handbook, Clemson HGIC 1600, NC State AG-727 |
| Rabbit, sheep, goat and llama manure | Green | Yes | Yes | Not covered | Not covered | Not covered | Ask your program | Plant-eating animals only. Same herbicide check as horse and cow manure. | Penn State manure, Illinois How to Begin, NC State handbook, NC State AG-727 |
| Chicken and other poultry manure | Green | Yes | Yes | Not covered | Not covered | Not covered | Ask your program | Penn State says chicken manure should be composted before use. It is high in nitrogen (Missouri gives fresh poultry manure at about 10:1). | Penn State manure, Illinois How to Begin, Missouri G6956, NC State AG-727 |
| Pig manure and manure from meat eaters | Neither | No | No | No | Not covered | Not covered | Ask your program | Penn State, Maine and Iowa State exclude pig, dog and cat manure from gardens and piles. Illinois lists swine and carnivore manures as not for piles. | Penn State manure, Maine 2510, Iowa State manure, Illinois How to Begin |
| Straw | Brown | Yes | Yes | Not covered | Not covered | Not covered | Ask your program | Penn State, Maryland and Oregon State list straw. Straw can carry persistent herbicides: see the herbicide check before using outside straw on vegetables. | Penn State home composting, Maryland how-to, Oregon State troubleshooting, NC State AG-727 |
| Hay | Both | Yes | Yes | Not covered | Not covered | Not covered | Ask your program | Maryland lists hay among browns; Clemson's table gives alfalfa hay a nitrogen-rich ratio (12:1), so it can act as either. NC State says hay can keep herbicide activity after three years in storage: see the herbicide check. | Maryland how-to, Clemson HGIC 1600, NC State AG-727 |
| Grass, hay, straw or manure treated with a persistent herbicide (clopyralid, aminopyralid, picloram) | Neither | No | No | No | No | No | Ask your program | These herbicides survive composting and can damage peas, beans, tomatoes, potatoes and other crops. EPA lists herbicide-treated plants and grass to avoid. Ask what was sprayed, and run the pot test on outside material: Leaves, grass and yard. | EPA, Composting at Home, EPA pyridine herbicides, NC State AG-727, Oregon State EM 9307 |
| Dog waste | Neither | No | No | No | No | No | Ask your program (NYC lists pet waste as not accepted) | No in every column, in every method this manual teaches. See why. | EPA, Composting at Home, NC State handbook, Penn State manure, CDC toxocariasis, NYC curbside page |
| Cat waste | Neither | No | No | No | No | No | Ask your program (NYC lists pet waste as not accepted) | No in every column. CDC says cat feces can carry Toxoplasma and advises gloves and hand washing around soil that may be contaminated. See why. | EPA, Composting at Home, Minnesota home gardens, CDC toxoplasmosis, NYC curbside page |
| Cat litter | Neither | No | No | No | No | No | Ask your program (NYC lists pet waste as not accepted) | No in every column. EPA lists pet waste and cat litter to avoid. See why. | EPA, Composting at Home, UF Can I Compost It, NC State handbook, NYC curbside page |
| Human waste | Neither | No | No | No | No | No | Ask your program | No in every column. Penn State excludes human and pet wastes; Wisconsin says human waste should not be used to fertilize soil where vegetables are grown; NC State lists it as never for a worm bin. | Penn State home composting, Penn State manure, Wisconsin manure, NC State AG-473-18 |
| Bags and ware labeled compostable or biodegradable | Neither | No | No | No | No | No | Ask your program (liner rules differ: NYC accepts compostable bags, Burnaby accepts paper only) | EPA lists compostable foodservice ware and bags to avoid in a backyard pile, because such piles generally do not reach high enough temperatures. Whether a program accepts them is the program's rule. See labels. | EPA, Composting at Home, NYC curbside page |
| Products certified home compostable | Neither | No | No | No | No | No | Ask your program | Our default: leave out until you have read What goes in. BPI tests certified home products at 68 to 86°F; they may take 12 months or longer, and BPI says results are not guaranteed. EPA still lists compostable ware and bags to avoid. | BPI home composting, BPI certification, OK compost HOME, EPA, Composting at Home |
| Diapers | Neither | No | No | No | No | No | Ask your program (NYC lists diapers as not accepted) | NC State: may contain parasites and pathogens. | NC State handbook, NYC curbside page |
| Soil | Neither | Small amounts | Small amounts | Small amounts | Not covered | Not covered | Ask your program | Sources differ; see What goes in. Penn State suggests a 2-inch soil layer, Illinois 1 to 2 inches, and NC State a handful per layer; Maryland lists soil under items not to compost. For worms, WSU Thurston adds a couple of handfuls once as grit, and UC Orange County says not to use soil as bedding. Our default: small amounts. | Penn State home composting, Illinois How to Begin, NC State handbook, Maryland how-to, WSU Thurston worms, UC Orange County worms |
| Plastic, synthetic fabric, petroleum products and solvents | Neither | No | No | No | No | No | Ask your program | Maryland lists them among items not to compost. | Maryland how-to |
Limits
These are the sources' conventions for home methods, and they differ from each other and from your program's list. "Compostable" on a label describes a test in conditions a home bin may not reach. A "no" here means the sources leave it out, and a "yes" does not promise a result in your bin. Whether your city or program takes an item is the program's answer, and whether you may compost outdoors at all may be your landlord's or association's. For persistent herbicides, the pot test shows damage to peas or beans, not which chemical is present.
Where these come from. University extension, agency and city program pages, each linked in its row and fetched on 2026-10-26. Items the sources do not cover are not in the table. What goes in explains the sort and the stays-out list: green and brown, what stays out and your own inventory.