Composting Tips for Outdoor Cooking and Picnics

By Jeff Patterson

Summer is here and Central Texans love nothing more than outdoor grilling and picnics with family and friends. Having a composting plan can be a great way to reduce waste and make your gathering eco-friendly.  Austin Resource Recovery has some practical composting tips: 

What to Compost:  

• Organic food scraps, like fruit, vegetable peels, corn cobs, tamale husks, buns, etc. 

• Compostable Tableware, like certified compostable plates, cups, and utensils (look for BPI-certified products) 

• Uncoated paper napkins and towels 

What NOT to Compost: 

• Greasy or oily food waste 

• Charcoal ash (unless it is natural lump charcoal) 

• Plastic utensils or coated paper plates 

• BBQ sauce or condiments (high in sugar/salt) 

 Set Up Compost/Recycling Stations:

• Set up clearly labeled bins for “Compost,” “Trash,” and “Recycling” and encourage guests to use them. 

• Use compostable or biodegradable bin liners (certified to break down as compost) and brown paper grocery bags.  They can help keep things clean and make it easy to transport scraps. 

• Educate guests with helpful hints.  Simple “What Goes Where” signs can help folks learn how to sort items properly. For help, check out ARR’s online What Do I Do With... tool as a guide. 

• Use bins with lids to discourage flies and reduce odors. 

Afterwards: 

• Transfer compostables to your green City of Austin composting cart or your own compost pile. 

• Layer food scraps with grass clippings, dry leaves or brown paper to maintain a good compost balance and reduce unpleasant odors.  

For more information visit austintexas.gov/composting.