If you have run out of leaves, don’t fret. We have other
sources of “brown” or “carbon-rich” material that can substitute for leaves in
a pinch. I will say that leaves are, hands down, the best carbon source for
backyard composting, but below are good alternatives.
Alternative sources of carbon:
- Dead plants in the yard
- Shredded paper (shred to avoid matting)
- Paper
plates and napkins
- Egg cartons
- Hay or straw
- Untreated sawdust (use sparingly, very high in carbon)
- Untreated wood chips (use sparingly)
- Dryer
lint (link)
- Cardboard (torn into pieces)
- Pine needles (brown)
- Junk mail
- Prunings from woody shrubbery (cut into small pieces)
- Tea bags
- Expired spices
- Corn cobs (cut up into pieces)
- Wood ash (use sparingly)
You still need to bury your food scraps even if it is
under a bed of shredded pizza boxes. Happy composting, friends, and don’t
worry, your yard will be buried in leaves before you know it.