What Really Belongs in Your Compost Can?
A Local Guide to Composting in Kansas City
Whether you’re just getting started or have been composting for years, chances are you’ve paused over the bin and wondered: “Can I compost this?”
It’s a good question to ask. And an important one.
At KC Can Compost, we make it easy to say “yes” to more things. But knowing what can and can’t go into the bin is key to keeping our system clean and effective.
Why Contamination Is a Big Deal
When the wrong items end up in a compost can, they don’t just disappear, they cause problems.
Contaminants like plastic, glass, foil, and non-certified “greenwashed” products can:
Harm processing equipment
Reduce compost quality
Introduce toxins into soil
Force otherwise compostable material to be landfilled
Even small items can make a big impact. A single broken glass jar or a few pieces of plastic packaging can ruin an entire batch of finished compost.
Because our goal is to create clean, nutrient-rich compost that can safely be used in local gardens, farms, and green spaces, we have to be strict about what goes in.
That’s where you come in.
What You Can Compost with KC Can Compost
Our system is more advanced than a backyard compost pile which means we can accept more materials than most people expect. That includes items that require higher temperatures or longer breakdown times. Some things might surprise you.
Surprising but Compostable (with us):
Meat, bones, and dairy – our commercial-scale system reaches temperatures that break these down safely
Greasy pizza boxes – oil and cheese? No problem
Paper towels and napkins – as long as they aren’t soaked in cleaning chemicals
Coffee filters and tea bags – if they’re paper-based
Certified compostable cups, utensils, and takeout containers – more on that below
View the full list of accepted items 👉 KC Can Compost – What’s Accepted
What Does “Compostable” Really Mean?
Not everything labeled biodegradable or green is actually safe for composting. In fact, many products break down too slowly or contain hidden plastic layers that contaminate the process.
To make sure an item is truly compostable in our system, look for the BPI Certification mark.
BPI-Certified Compostables:
Break down fully in commercial composting conditions
Contain no toxic residues
Are tested and approved by the Biodegradable Products Institute
Often labeled with “BPI Certified” and a leaf symbol
May also include ASTM D6400 or D6868 standards
Pro tip: If you’re not sure, snap a pic and send it to us, or stick with items you know are accepted.
Keep It Clean: Composting Tips for a Healthier System
The quality of our compost depends on what you put in the can. A few small habits make a big difference in keeping our finished product clean, safe, and ready to return to local soil:
Use BPI-certified liners (like BioBag or UNNI) to keep scraps contained and make drop-off quick and easy
Remove produce stickers, rubber bands, and metal twist ties - they don’t break down and can contaminate the compost
Tie your liner shut before dropping it in to prevent loose debris and odors
Never include trash, plastic bags, or foil, even if they’re labeled “biodegradable”
When we all compost carefully, we create the clean, nutrient-rich soil amendment that supports local farms, gardens, and green spaces, without contamination or waste.
How to Compost with KC Can
Whether you want to reduce your waste, support the planet, or just stop throwing food scraps in the trash, composting with KC Can Compost is easy.
Join the Member Program
Become a KC Can Compost Member and gain access to our member drop-off locations across the KC metro.
Start Collecting at Home
Use your compost can just like you’d use a trash can but for all your accepted food scraps and compostables. Line it with a BPI-certified liner and keep it somewhere convenient (kitchen counter, under the sink, etc.).
Drop Off When It’s Full
Visit any of our convenient drop-off locations—near coffee shops, small businesses, and major intersections. Grab a drink at Café Cà Phê, return your books at the library, or knock out your grocery run. Composting fits right into your routine.
Feel Good About the Impact You’re Making
You’re keeping food waste out of landfills, reducing methane emissions, and helping produce healthy, clean compost for local soil. Plus, your membership supports green job training through our Green Core Training program.
Help Us Grow the Movement
Composting is climate action—and it’s happening right here in Kansas City.
✅ Share this article with a neighbor
✅ Invite your workplace to explore commercial composting
✅ Get started today and make your scraps count
Because a cleaner future starts in your kitchen and ends in healthier soil, stronger communities, and a better Kansas City for everyone.