When it comes to home composting, it's important to be mindful of what you add to your pile. Animal products, cooked grains, oils, and fats are not likely to break down in a typical backyard compost pile, and can also attract unwanted animal pests. It's best to leave the breakdown of these materials to larger industrial-level composters. Instead, stick to yard waste and raw cooking scraps from your kitchen, which will efficiently decompose and enrich your compost with essential nutrients.