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How to Recycle Food Scraps
Vegetable peels, fruit scraps, coffee grounds, and other organic food waste.
Check local acceptanceLast reviewed July 30, 2026
Quick answer
Compost accepted food scraps; landfilled food waste produces methane. Keep meat, fish, dairy, and oils out of a typical backyard pile because they can attract pests and need more controlled handling. Some municipal organics programs accept these foods. Check the program's list for compostable plastics and foodware: a compostable label alone does not mean your facility accepts them. Before you go, confirm that a local recycling center accepts the material in its current condition.
- Recycling route
- Check locally
How to Prepare
- 1Collect scraps in a countertop container as you cook
- 2In a backyard bin, leave out meat, fish, bones, dairy, and fats, which attract pests and won't decompose at backyard temperatures
- 3Check your municipal program's list before assuming meat and dairy are excluded; many curbside programs accept them
- 4Skip bags and foodware labeled compostable or biodegradable unless your program specifically accepts them
- 5Mix nitrogen-rich scraps with carbon-rich material like dry leaves or shredded paper
- 6Chop large pieces so they break down faster
- 7Keep pet waste, produce stickers, and glossy paper out of any compost stream
Where to Recycle
- Home composting bins or piles
- Municipal curbside organics collection
- Drop-off organics or green-waste sites
- Community gardens with compost programs
Special Instructions
The meat-and-dairy rule depends on where the scraps are headed. Backyard piles rarely sustain the heat needed to break them down without smell or pests, per EPA's home composting guidance. Large-city curbside and drop-off organics programs run at industrial temperatures and often accept them; Los Angeles's program explicitly does. Smaller or older municipal programs may still say no, so check your local list instead of assuming. Bags and containers marketed as compostable are a common trap even at curbside: LA Sanitation rejects them because they don't break down within a typical processing cycle, even when certified.
Environmental Impact
Food scraps make up close to a third of what enters landfills, where they decompose without oxygen and release methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Composting them aerobically avoids that methane and returns nutrients to soil instead.
Sustainable Alternatives
- Plan meals and portion food to cut waste at the source
- Donate still-good excess food to a food bank
- Feed appropriate scraps to backyard chickens where allowed
Official guidance and resources
Accepted items and drop-off rules can vary by location. Check the destination before you go.
What’s Accepted
Not Accepted
- Meat, fish, bones, dairy, and fats in backyard compost (many municipal programs accept these instead)
- Pet waste and cat litter
- Bags, cups, and foodware labeled compostable or biodegradable, in most programs
- Produce stickers and glossy or coated paper
FAQs
What can I put in a food-scrap or green bin?
Fruit and vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, eggshells, and plain food-soiled paper are common examples. Meat, dairy, bones, oils, bags, pet waste, stickers, and foodware depend on the local program, so check its accepted-items list.
Can I compost meat, dairy, bones, and cooking oil?
Usually not in an ordinary backyard pile because they attract pests and need more heat. Many municipal or commercial organics programs accept meat, dairy, and bones, but cooking oil and grease often follow a separate rule. Check locally.
Can compostable bags go in with food scraps?
Only when the receiving facility explicitly accepts them. Many organics programs reject compostable plastic bags and foodware, even when certified, because they do not break down within the facility's process.
Recycle food scraps
Search recycling centers by city or ZIP, or explore more organic waste materials.