Compost Information

You CAN Compost:

Bitten Apple Image Food Scraps
  • Bread, grains and pasta
  • Coffee grounds
  • Dairy
  • Eggshells
  • Fish and shellfish
  • Fruit, including pits
  • Meat, including bones
  • Poultry
  • Vegetables

Soiled Paper Products
  • Coffee filters
  • Greasy pizza boxes
  • Paper cups and plates
  • Paper ice cream containers
  • Paper bags, napkins, tissues and towels
  • Paper take-out boxes and containers
  • Paper tea bags
  • Waxy paper milk and juice cartons (no foil liner)
  • Waxed cardboard and paper
  • Wine corks

Yard Trimmings
  • Branches and brush
  • Flowers and floral trimmings
  • Grasses and weeds
  • Leaves
  • Tree trimmings

Please, No:

  • Animal waste
  • Concrete, asphalt, stones, sod, dirt and bricks
  • Cooking oil
  • Diapers
  • Juice or soy milk boxes with foil liner
  • Liquids and ice
  • Recyclables (glass, aluminum, paper, plastics 1-7)
  • Palm fronds
  • Plastic bags
  • Plastic corks
  • Plywood
  • Styrofoam packaging, food containers and packing peanuts
  • Treated and painted wood

Still have questions? Please see our FAQ page for answers!

Language Assistance:
We offer a free Language Line with over 170 different languages through our Customer Service Department. Please call (650) 595-3900 for more information.

You can also visit RecycleWorks of San Mateo County for general recycling and waste reduction information.