If it grew from the earth, it can return to it. Here's everything Shift accepts and what to keep out of the bin.
Food Scraps
Fruit scraps
Vegetable scraps
Meat, bones & poultry
Seafood & shellfish
Dairy
Eggs & eggshells
Bread, pasta & grains
Pizza
Cookies, cake & candy
Corn cobs & husks
Nuts, seeds & shells
Coffee grounds
Tea bags & loose leaf
Herbs & spices
Onion & garlic skins
Small pet food
Fats & Oils
Cooking oil & grease
Bacon fat & solidified grease
Paper & Natural Materials
Paper towels & napkins
Paper plates
Paper egg cartons
Paper bags
Popsicle sticks, chopsticks, toothpicks
Sawdust & wood shavings
Plants & Garden
Cut flowers & houseplants
Dead leaves
Grass clippings
Spent garden plants & trimmings
Mushrooms & fungi
Animal Bedding
Rabbit & guinea pig bedding
Chicken & bird bedding
Hamster & small pet bedding
Certified Compostable Only
Certified cups, plates & utensils
Certified takeout containers & bowls
Certified compostable bags & liners
Brown paper bags as liners
All Plastics
Plastic bags (all types)
Shrink wrap & bubble wrap
Styrofoam
PLA without certification
Biodegradable without certification
Metals & Hardware
Metal cans & tins
Foil & aluminum
Fasteners & hardware
Paper & Cardboard (these types)
Greasy cardboard
Cartons & Tetra Paks
Paper coffee cups
Wax paper & parchment paper
Glossy & coated paper
Wax products
Produce
Produce stickers (PLU labels)
Waste & Hazardous
Dog & cat waste
Kitty litter
Medications & chemicals
Charcoal & coal ash
Dead animals
Laundry lint & dryer sheets
Bodily fluids on paper
Plants (specific types)
Diseased or pest-ridden plants
Invasive weeds with seeds
Christmas trees & wreaths
Treated or painted wood
Items labeled “compostable” must carry the BPI, TUV, or CMA certification logoto be accepted. Simply saying “biodegradable” or “plant-based” is not enough. Trusted certified bag brands: BioBag, EcoSafe, Repurpose, and UNNI.
Have a question about a specific item? Reach out. We're happy to help.