Earth Month is here, and at Oryana, we’re thinking about the small, everyday choices that make a real impact. One of the simplest ways to care for our planet? Keeping food waste out of landfills and putting it back into the soil where it belongs.
That’s where composting comes in. We’re proud to partner with Carter’s Compost, a local Traverse City service that collects food scraps and turns them into nutrient-rich compost for our community. You may have seen or used our blue compost bins outside our store, and we are here to remind you that composting only works when we all do our part. This Earth Month, we need your help keeping the wrong things out of the bins and making sure the right things make it in.
Why Composting Matters
Food waste doesn’t just disappear when it goes in the trash. In landfills, it breaks down without oxygen and produces methane, a powerful greenhouse gas. Composting keeps those materials in a natural cycle, turning scraps into something that feeds the earth instead of harming it.
What Does Belong in the Bin ✅
- All fruits and vegetables
- Coffee grounds and paper filters
- Tea (non-plastic bags)
- Egg shells
- Pasta, grains, and bread (no heavy oils or dairy)
- Newspaper and unbleached paper products
- Cut flowers
These items break down naturally and help create healthy, nutrient-rich compost.
What Does NOT Belong ❌
This is where it really matters. Even a small amount of the wrong material can contaminate an entire batch.
Please keep these out:
- Meat, fish, and bones
- Dairy products
- Greasy or oily foods
- Produce stickers
- “Compostable” cups, containers, and bags
- Twist ties and rubber bands
- Animal waste
Items like meat and dairy can attract pests and disrupt the composting process, while plastics and “compostable” packaging often don’t break down properly in community systems.
A Community Effort
When the wrong items end up in compost bins, they don’t just get picked out and move on. Entire loads can be rejected, sending all that good food waste back to the landfill. That’s why getting it right matters. It’s not about being perfect, it’s about being mindful. Composting is a true community effort, and through our partnership with Carter’s Compost, we’re working together to turn everyday scraps into healthy soil right here in Traverse City. This Earth Month, take a second look before you toss. Does it belong in the compost? Use the guide below to help you compost with confidence, keeping the right things in and the wrong things out. Small choices like this add up to something bigger for all of us. 🌎
