Yes! You Can Compost All This
We accept raw, cooked, and spoiled food scraps, soiled paper products, plant trimmings and certified compostable serviceware. This can account for up to 40% of your trash and is more than can be composted in a backyard pile.
Look Up An Item
A Quick Search for Identifying Compostables
What Can Go In Your Green Compost Bin
If it grows, it goes!
We accept:
What does "Certified Compostable" mean?
We accept compostable liners, plates, utensils, cups, etc. that have the proper third-party compostable certification. This certification ensures the material will break down in an industrial compost facility in a set amount of time into acceptable non-toxic substrates.
The words biodegradable, compostable or ASTM-6400 alone are not enough for us to accept a product. It needs to have one of the following third-party certifications. Look for these logos on packaging.
About Certified Compostable Liners & Serviceware
How to Buy Certified Compostable Liners
The easiest way to order is through the shop in your online account. Bags will be delivered on your next service pick up.
SIZING
Compostable liners come in a variety of sizes. We offer three sizes that are the proper dimensions for our bins.
PURCHASING AT THE STORE
When purchasing liners elsewhere, bags must be certified compostable by BPI, TUV, or CMA and have the certification logo printed directly on each bag. Look for trusted brands such as BioBag, EcoSafe, Repurpose, & UNNI. They can often be found at Crosby’s, Target, Whole Foods, and Amazon.
Beware, some brands sold on Amazon fraudulently include the certification logo in the description or on the packaging. Stick with our trusted brands or check for the certification logo on the bag when you receive your order.
BROWN PAPER BAGS
Doubled-up brown paper bags can also be used as a liner when the temperature is consistently above freezing.
Buy Certified Compostable Serviceware
Compostable cups, plates, and utensils must be certified compostable. If you are out shopping for compostable products only purchase certified compostable products that have a BPI, TUV/OK Compost, or CMA certification logo on the packaging. They can be found at some grocery stores and online.
Avoid These
Common
Composting Contaminants
Produce Stickers
Produce stickers are not compostable and need to be removed from all fruits and vegetables. Take our Sticker for a Sticker Challenge. Collect your produce stickers for a chance at a Black Earth sticker.
Grocery Store Produce Bags
Grocery store produce bags may look compostable but most are NOT. It will be clear when one is acceptable because a BPI, TUV, or CMA certification logo will be printed directly on the bag.
Waxed Cardboard, Milk Cartons, Paper Cups
Waxed cardboard, milk cartons, paper cups or similar items not certified compostable are not accepted.
Paper
Paper is best recycled. We are not a paper recycling outlet. We don't accept cardboard, pizza boxes, junk mail, magazines, office paper, etc. Food-soiled napkins or paper products are okay, though.
Grass Clippings
Grass clippings can contain harmful chemicals. Unless you are a subscriber to one of our Organic Lawn Care Partners, which can be found on your customer dashboard, we will not take your grass clippings.
We take contamination seriously.
We turn your food scraps into compost used by local farms, backyard gardeners and community gardens. We care greatly about creating a high quality product. Bins will not be picked up if contamination is a problem. We can work together to adjust your composting system to eliminate contamination.
Fruit Sticker Collection Challenge
Collect and remove produce stickers to help improve our composting process and win a special Black Earth sticker.
Printable Composting Signage
Download free signage for home parties and restaurants to help educate others about proper composting.
