Get Started Composting!

Composting in Kansas City is easy! Bring your collected food waste and BPI certified compostable items to any of our free dropoff locations (see below). It's important that plastic bags are not placed in any compost collection container, but BPI certified bags are welcome and encouraged.

Compostable Items

Food Scraps 

• Table Scraps & Plate Scraping
• Meat, Poultry, Shellfish & Bones
• Eggs & Dairy Products
• Fruits & Vegetables 
• Bread Dough, Pastry, Pasta, Grains
• Coffee Grounds, Filters, & Tea Bags

Food Soiled Paper 

• Kitchen Paper Towels
• Uncoated Paper Take-out Containers
• Pizza Delivery Boxes 
• Paper Napkins
• Facial Tissue & Paper Towels 
• Waxed Cardboard & Paper
• Uncoated Paper Cups, Plates (no lids, straws, or creamers)

Tip: Look for BPI certified items to make sure they're compostable.

Plants & Flowers 

• Plants & Flowers Scraps

Non-Compostable Items

• Plastic Bags
• Plastic Tubs & Bottles
• Glass Bottles & Jars
• Metal
• Produce Baskets & Netting
• Burlap
• Plastic Wrap
• Cork
• Wax or Plastic Coated Take-Out Containers
• Plastic Plates, Cups & Utensils
• Latex & Plastic Gloves
• Styrofoam
• Foil
• Wire & Rubber Bands
• Grease & Liquids
• Painted & Treated Wood
• Pet Waste
• Hazardous Waste (dispose of these through the Water Department)

Tip: Many items that are not compostable are recyclable or reusable!

If you add something that isn’t compostable to your compost, it is considered a contamination. This means the whole batch of compost will need to be thrown out. That’s why we say: WHEN IN DOUBT, THROW IT OUT!

The Impact of Composting on Kansas City

Every item you place in a composting drop-off location starts an important journey that helps keep Kansas City green and sustainable. 

Your Direct Impact

• Fights Climate Change: Composting keeps food waste out of landfills, preventing it from creating methane, a harmful greenhouse gas. 
• Saves Money and Landfill Space: Composting reduces the need to build expensive new landfills or expand current ones.
• Creates Healthy Soil: When you compost, those scraps become healthy soil that helps plants grow. This creates rich mulch and compost for local farms, adding vital nutrients to our soil.
• Learn more below under the "Why Compost" tab.