Can I Compost Meat and Dairy? What You Need to Know
Meat and dairy can be composted, but whether they belong in your compost system depends on how you compost. Unlike fruit and vegetable scraps, meat, bones, cheese, yogurt, milk, butter, and other animal products decompose differently. They can create odors, attract pests, and break down slowly in many backyard compost piles if they aren't managed properly. Fortunately, several composting methods are designed to handle these materials safely.
Why Meat and Dairy Are Different
Meat and dairy are rich in proteins and fats, making them valuable organic materials. However, these same qualities also make them more likely to attract rodents, raccoons, flies, and other scavengers if left exposed. Potential challenges include:
Strong odors
Pest attraction
Slower decomposition
Excess moisture
Anaerobic conditions if added in large quantities
These problems are usually caused by how meat and dairy are composted, not by the materials themselves.
Which Meats Can Be Composted?
All types of meat are compostable, but some composting systems handle them better than others. Compostable meats include:
Beef
Chicken
Turkey
Pork
Lamb
Venison
Fish
Shellfish
Deli meats
Bacon
Ham
Sausage
The type of meat matters less than your composting method. Bokashi systems and many municipal composting programs are designed to process meat safely, while traditional backyard compost piles require more care to avoid odors and pests.
Raw vs. Cooked Meat: Does It Matter?
Both raw and cooked meat are compostable. Cooking does not change whether meat can be composted, although cooked foods often contain oils, sauces, or seasonings that may slow decomposition or increase odors in a backyard compost pile. Plain cooked meat is generally easier to manage than greasy leftovers, but the most important consideration is choosing the right composting method rather than whether the meat is raw or cooked.
Which Dairy Products Can Be Composted?
Most dairy products are compostable when added to the appropriate composting system. These include:
Milk
Cheese
Yogurt
Butter
Sour cream
Cottage cheese
Heavy cream
Ice cream
Because dairy products contain fats and proteins, they can create odors and attract pests in open compost piles if added in large amounts. Bokashi systems and municipal composting programs are generally better suited for processing dairy than traditional backyard compost piles.
What About Grease and Cooking Oil?
Use caution with fats and oils. Small amounts of oil left on food scraps are usually not a problem, but pouring cooking oil, bacon grease, lard, shortening, or large amounts of animal fat directly into a backyard compost pile is not recommended. Excess grease can:
Slow decomposition
Create unpleasant odors
Reduce airflow
Encourage anaerobic conditions
Attract rodents and insects
Whenever possible, keep large quantities of fats and oils out of traditional compost systems.
Can You Compost Meat and Dairy in a Backyard Compost Pile?
Generally, it's best to avoid adding meat and dairy to an open backyard compost pile.
While they will eventually decompose, they often attract unwanted animals and may create unpleasant odors before breaking down. If you choose to compost small amounts:
Bury scraps deep in the center of an active pile.
Maintain a healthy balance of greens and browns.
Turn the pile regularly.
Avoid adding large quantities.
Use a secure compost bin if pests are common in your area.
For most home gardeners, there are better composting methods for animal products.
Can You Compost Meat and Dairy in a Compost Tumbler?
A compost tumbler performs better than an open pile because it helps contain odors and keeps pests from reaching food scraps. However, tumblers still require proper management. If composting meat or dairy in a tumbler:
Add only small amounts.
Balance with carbon-rich browns.
Rotate regularly.
Avoid overloading the system.
Monitor moisture carefully.
A sealed tumbler reduces many of the problems associated with open compost piles.
Can You Compost Meat and Dairy with Bokashi?
Yes. Bokashi composting is one of the best methods for handling meat and dairy at home. Because Bokashi uses fermentation instead of traditional aerobic decomposition, it can safely process:
Meat
Fish
Cheese
Milk
Yogurt
Butter
Cooked leftovers
After fermentation, the material is buried in soil or added to a compost pile to finish breaking down.
Can Worms Compost Meat and Dairy?
Generally, no. Most vermicomposting systems are designed for fruit and vegetable scraps, paper products, and other plant-based materials. Large amounts of meat or dairy can:
Produce odors
Attract pests
Create anaerobic conditions
Stress worm populations
Small accidental amounts usually aren't a problem, but meat and dairy should not become regular additions to a worm bin.
Can Municipal Compost Programs Accept Meat and Dairy?
Often, yes. Many commercial composting facilities operate at larger scales and use carefully managed systems capable of composting materials that are unsuitable for most backyard piles. Many facilities:
Reach higher composting temperatures
Monitor moisture and oxygen levels
Process much larger volumes of material
Use specialized equipment to speed decomposition
These controlled conditions allow many municipal composting programs to safely accept meat, dairy, bones, and cooked food scraps that would be challenging for many home composters. Many curbside food scrap programs accept:
Meat
Poultry
Fish
Bones
Cheese
Milk
Yogurt
Eggs
Cooked leftovers
This said, always check your local compost program's accepted materials before adding these items to your collection bin.
What About Bones?
Bones are technically compostable but require patience. Small bones from fish or poultry may eventually break down in hot compost systems, while large beef or pork bones can take years to decompose. Many home composters choose municipal composting or Bokashi for bones rather than backyard compost piles.
Can You Compost Spoiled Meat or Dairy?
Yes but only using the appropriate composting method. Spoiled food is still organic matter. Bokashi systems and many municipal composting programs can safely process spoiled meat and dairy products that would be difficult to manage in a backyard compost pile. Remove any plastic packaging before composting.
Common Meat and Dairy Composting Mistakes
Choosing the right composting method makes all the difference. Avoid these common mistakes:
Leaving meat exposed on top of a compost pile.
Adding large quantities to an open backyard bin.
Composting greasy foods without balancing with browns.
Feeding meat or dairy regularly to worm bins.
Assuming all compost systems handle animal products equally.
Can You Compost Pet Food?
Yes, but treat it like meat. Dry kibble, canned food, raw pet food, and treats all contain animal proteins or fats that should be composted using the same guidelines as meat. For most home composters, Bokashi systems and municipal composting are the best options. Avoid regularly adding pet food to worm bins or open backyard compost piles because it can attract pests and create odors.
Can You Compost Holiday Leftovers?
Many holiday leftovers are compostable, although some belong in different composting systems. Items that can often be composted include:
Turkey
Ham
Chicken
Fish
Cheese
Mashed potatoes
Vegetables
Bread
Fruit
Stuffing
Gravy
Backyard compost piles work best for plant-based leftovers in moderation. Meat, dairy, and heavily greasy foods are usually better suited for Bokashi composting or municipal food scrap collection programs. Removing plastic packaging, foil, and utensils before composting is always essential.
Composting Meat and Dairy by Composting Method
Not every composting system handles meat and dairy equally well. Choosing the right composting method helps reduce odors, discourage pests, and produce healthier finished compost.
Composting Method | Meat | Dairy |
Backyard Compost Pile | Small amounts with caution | Small amounts with caution |
Compost Tumbler | Better than an open pile | Better than an open pile |
Bokashi Composting | Excellent | Excellent |
Worm Bin | Generally not recommended | Generally not recommended |
Municipal Composting | Usually accepted | Usually accepted |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you compost cooked meat?
Yes, but Bokashi systems and municipal composting are generally better choices than an open backyard compost pile.
Can you compost cheese?
Yes. Cheese can be composted using Bokashi or many municipal composting programs.
Can you compost milk?
Yes. Small amounts can be composted, though liquids should be absorbed into carbon-rich materials first if using traditional composting.
Can you compost bones?
Yes, but they decompose very slowly in backyard compost piles. Commercial composting or Bokashi systems are often more practical.
Choose the Right Composting Method
Meat and dairy don't have to end up in the landfill, but they do require the right composting system. Rather than thinking of these materials as "not compostable," think of them as materials that need a different approach. Matching your food scraps to the appropriate composting method allows you to recycle more waste, protect your compost pile from pests and odors, and continue building healthy soil in a responsible, regenerative way.
About Let’s Go Compost
Let’s Go Compost is a national nonprofit making composting simple, affordable, and accessible. Our programs bring hands-on composting to communities, helping people turn food and plant waste into healthy soil that supports food systems, native plant ecosystems, and pollinators. Learn more at letsgocompost.org and support our work at letsgocompost.org/donate.
