Open the average kitchen trash can and you may find the beginnings of next year’s garden soil hiding among the garbage. Fruit peels, vegetable trimmings, coffee grounds, eggshells, and several other everyday scraps are perfectly suited to backyard composting, where microorganisms eventually transform them into a useful soil amendment. The Environmental Protection Agency says home composting can reduce household waste while producing compost that builds healthier soil, improves water retention, and slowly releases nutrients. The problem is that not everything biodegradable belongs in a typical backyard pile, and adding the wrong leftovers can attract animals or create an unpleasant mess. Here are eight kitchen scraps worth saving—and five you should generally keep out of your home compost.
