Your composter will work best if it is fed a steady mixture of green (nitrogen-rich) and brown (carbon-rich) materials. Don't load it up with all one type of material. Below is a list of some of the "greens" and "browns" that make up the healthy diet for a happy composter.

From the Kitchen

From the Yard

Materials to Avoid

The following organic materials can be composted, but may cause problems if the composter is not well managed. Novices might want to avoid these items:

• meat, fish and bones
• oils or fats
• dairy products
• sauces made with meat, oil or dairy products
• mature weed (with seeds)
• diseased or insect-infested plants
• pet wastes

Many people use a Digestor for these materials - call the Recycling Board for information on availablity.