my mom didn't waste a thing, even before they heard of composting we had to throw orange rinds or any kind of food into her pit as we called it. my dad would dig holes and when they were full cover and dig another one for her. we lived by the beach and she always had a garden going even though the dirt was sand. we also had peach, orange,lemon,plum trees. also plants galore. she really had a green thumb. also the grocery bags were paper could be thrown in there too they would rot away. we also had crocheted or fabric bags that folded up into your purse from europe she always had on her since they could hang off her bicylce handles.