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Guidelines

Composting with the Isla Vista Community Compost Collective (IVCC) is a powerful way to reduce landfill waste while creating nutrient-rich compost for local gardens and green spaces. Composting the correct materials ensures the final product is dense in nutrients, biologically complete, and ready to enrich our community’s soil. Your participation makes a direct impact on the health of Isla Vista's environment.

To make it easy to follow these guidelines, we’ve provided a written list below as well as infographics with the same information—perfect for quick reference!

✅ What You Can Compost

  • Food Scraps
    • Fruits and vegetables (peels, cores, and scraps)
    • Grains, rice, and pasta
    • Bread and baked goods (without butter or frosting)
    • Coffee grounds and paper filters
    • Tea leaves and paper tea bags (with staples removed)
    • Eggshells
  • Plant-Based Materials
    • Yard trimmings (grass clippings, leaves, and small branches)
    • Cut flowers
    • Houseplant trimmings

🚫 What You Cannot Compost

  • Animal Products
    • Meat, fish, and poultry
    • Bones
    • Dairy products (milk, cheese, butter)
  • Oily or Greasy Foods
    • Foods cooked in oil or grease
    • Salad dressings or sauces
  • Non-Compostable Materials
    • Plastic, metal, and glass
    • Paper with wax, plastic, or glossy coatings
    • Styrofoam
    • Synthetic fabrics
  • Other Waste
    • Pet waste or litter
    • Diapers or sanitary products
    • Large wood pieces
  • Compostable Packaging
    • Items labeled "Certified Compostable" (e.g., utensils, plates, and cups)

❗Most Commonly Found Unaccepted Items:

Please take extra care to remove these items from your food scrap donations:

  • Produce stickers on bananas, avocados, and other peels
  • Twist ties on produce
  • Rubber bands on produce

 

Illustration of compostable items: fruits/veggies, tea bags, eggshells, grains/pasta, coffee grounds, flowers, green plant trimmings.
An infographic listing acceptable brown materials for composting: wood chips, leaves, sawdust from untreated wood, coffee filters, egg cartons, cardboard, and newspaper.
Illustration of unaccepted items for composting: produce stickers, compostable dishware, bags, twist ties, bleached paper, oils/fats, meat/dairy, animal waste.
An infographic showing items to remove before composting: produce stickers, twist ties, and rubber bands.

Why These Guidelines Matter

Contamination can disrupt the composting process and compromise the quality of the final compost. By only including approved items, you’re helping to produce nutrient-dense, biocomplete compost that supports healthy soil and thriving plants in Isla Vista.

If you're unsure about an item, it’s better to leave it out or contact us with questions. Together, we can create high-quality compost and build a more sustainable community!