CompostingGuidelines
Source: US EPA website http://www.epa.gov/compost/basic.htm
What to Compost
Animal manure
Cardboard rolls
Clean paper (including paper towels)
Coffee grounds and filters
Cotton rags
Dryer and vacuum cleaner lint
Eggshells Fireplace ashes
Fruits and vegetables
Grass clippings
Hair and fur
Hay and straw
Houseplants Leaves
Nut shells
Sawdust
Shredded newspaper
Tea bags
Wood chips
Wool rags
Yard trimmings
What Not to Compost
Coal or charcoal ash
Dairy products: butter, egg yolks, milk, sour cream, yogurt
Diseased or insect-ridden plants
Fats, grease, lard, or oils
Meat or fish bones and scraps
Yard trimmings treated with chemical pesticide
Carbon and nitrogen are the two fundamental elements in composting, and their ratio (C:N) is significant. The bulk of the organic matter should be carbon with just enough nitrogen to aid the decomposition process. The ratio should be roughly 30 parts carbon to 1 part nitrogen (30:1) by weight. (source: http://www.howtocompost.org/info/info_composting.asp)