• Composting creates nutrient-rich organic matter.outils de jardin image by Claudio Calcagno from Fotolia.com
  
  There are two basic kinds of compost products --- green and brown --- which must be balanced correctly to compost most efficiently. Items high in nitrogen are considered green and are not necessarily green in color, whereas items high in carbon are considered brown. Green composting ingredients help to speed up the decomposition process by heating up the matter.
  
  

Yard Waste

• Although any type of yard waste may be added to a compost bin, green compost refers to items that are not woody or dry, like stems or branches from a tree. Fresh grass clippings or leaves are considered green. However, once the clippings or leaves have dried out they are considered brown.
  
  

Table Scraps

• Most organic table scraps, like produce or vegetables, are considered green. Feel free to add vegetable scraps and peels, as well as fruit rinds into the compost bin. Tea leaves, coffee grounds and crushed egg shells are also appropriate nitrogen-rich ingredients to add to the mix. If working with a worm compost bin, avoid adding citrus fruits, which may harm the worms.
  
  

Animal Products

• Most animal manure is an acceptable form of green product, according to an article on BestGardening.com; however, avoid using dog or cat waste. Other animal products, such as hair, fur and feathers may also be added to the compost heap, and are considered green because they are nitrogen-rich.