What should you not use to make compost?

Generally, wildlife, toxicity and size are the guidelines for what is not used in making compost.

Specifically, not all kitchen scraps should be put in the compost heap. Wildlife tend to be attracted to meat, oily and greasy foods, and dairy products. Any product that contains or has been exposed to poisons or toxins should not be included in the compost pile. Additionally, there may be large items such as mattresses that decompose over time. But they should be avoided. The reason lies in the importance of being able to turn the entire heap regularly. A pile that is turned daily well may have within 31 days the dark brown, fresh-smelling, nutrient-rich organic material that proper composting procedure yields.