Many people dispose of solid wastes in compost piles. The best items to add are those that break down wastes rapidly. The table below list the carbon-to-nitrogen ratio:
| Material | Carbon-to-nitrogen ratio |
| Fruit wastes | 35 |
| Grass clippings | 20 |
| Leaves | 60 |
| Rotten manure | 20 |
| Sawdust/wood | 600 |
| Straw | 100 |
| Table scraps | 15 |
What item would break down the easiest?