What You Can and Can't Compost

By Lottie Dalziel

Creating good compost isn't as easy as throwing a couple of banana peels in the garden. But it's worth the extra effort as a good compost with the perfect balance and wet and dry products will create a nourishing blend that you can't even smell. So how do you do it?

What To Compost

Throw all of this in and you are good to go!

• All of your vegetable and fruit scraps (#)
• Egg shells (#)
• Coffee grounds (%)
• Green grass clippings, weeds - without seeds (#)
• Dried lawn clippings, dried leaves and old flowers (%)
• Vacuum dust and dog hair (%)
• Newspaper, cardboard and shredded paper (%)

The perfect compo combo is 1/3 green stuff (#) that makes nitrogen to 2/3 brown stuff (%) that makes carbon, think of it like you're cooking a cake you want a good batter that ain't too soggy.

What NOT To Compost

Steer clear of adding these to your bin:

• Meat, bones, dairy and fat
• Animal manures including pet poo – let's keep it vegan
• Magazines and glossy paper
• Large branches and weeds with seeds are a no go!
• Plastic and glass

Banish's No.1 Composting Essential 

Little Pepino's Kitchen Compost Bin - is the ideal way to keep your kitchen looking clean and clutter free. Perfect for small kitchens, this bin is made of a mixture of resin and recycled bamboo fibre. It's the perfect place to start on your compost journey!

You can read more about the benefits of composting here.

About the author

Lottie Dalziel is the founder and editor in chief of Banish. She has a passion for the environment and wants to help educate and inspire individuals to make small changes towards a more sustainable future. Stay up to date with her latest challenges on Instagram @banish.au.