At Happy Scraps Composting, we make composting easy and accessible by accepting a wide range of compostable materials—but not everything can break down properly in our system. Below, you’ll find a full guide to what you can and cannot compost with us, so you can make the most of your compost pickup service.
✅ What You CAN Compost
We accept most kitchen scraps, yard waste, and compostable materials. Here’s what you can toss into your Happy Scraps bin:
🍎 Food Scraps & Organic Waste
- Fruit & vegetable scraps (including citrus)
- Coffee grounds & filters
- Tea bags (must be plastic-free)
- Eggshells
- Cooked or uncooked grains (rice, pasta, bread, etc.)
- Plain oats & cereal
- Nut shells (except walnut shells, which can be toxic to plants)
🌿 Yard Waste & Natural Materials
- Leaves & grass clippings
- Small plant trimmings & flowers
- Sawdust & untreated wood shavings
- Weeds (as long as they haven’t gone to seed)
- Wood ash (must be from untreated wood, must not be from cooking charcoal)
📦 Paper, Animal Bedding, & Compostable Packaging
- Pizza boxes (no plastic, wax, or metal lining)
- Corrugated cardboard (NO tape, stickers, or adhesives—please remove before composting)
- Paper napkins, paper towels, & tissue (if free from grease or chemicals)
- Uncoated paper plates & paper food containers
- Shredded newspaper (black-and-white print only)
- Compostable plastics (must be clearly labeled as compostable)
- Some animal beddings (rabbit, hamster, and guinea pig bedding, wood cat litter, etc)
❌ What You CAN’T Compost
Some materials take too long to break down, introduce harmful bacteria, or disrupt the composting process. To keep our compost clean and effective, please DO NOT compost the following items:
🚫 Animal Products & Oily Foods
- Meat, poultry, or fish scraps
- Bones (including shellfish shells)
- Dairy products (milk, cheese, yogurt, butter, etc.)
- Fats, oils, and greases
- Salty foods (excess salt disrupts microbial balance)
🚫 Non-Compostable Packaging & Plastics
- Plastic bags & non-compostable plastics
- Waxed, coated, or plastic-lined paper products
- Stickers, tape, or adhesive (remove from cardboard before composting)
🚫 Other Non-Compostables
- Treated or painted wood
- Synthetic fabrics (polyester, nylon, etc.)
- Coal or charcoal ash
Still Not Sure? Ask Us!
Not sure if something belongs in your compost bin? Shoot me a text or give me a call at (828) 484-6944, and I’ll be happy to help! You can also reach me by email from the contact page.
Composting should be easy and stress-free, and Happy Scraps is here to make sure you get the most out of it. Thank you for helping Asheville stay green! 🌱♻