Is there a cat litter that can be composted? For anyone who’s ever dealt with the stinky, non-biodegradable bulk of traditional clay litter sitting in landfills for decades, this question isn’t just a casual curiosity—it’s a practical, daily concern. As someone who runs a cat litter company, I get asked this at every pet trade show, in every customer email, and by every neighbor who’s tired of hauling heavy plastic jugs of litter to the dump. The short answer is yes, but the “how” and “what” matter a lot. Compostable cat litter isn’t a one-size-fits-all product, and there’s more to it than just grabbing a bag labeled “eco-friendly” and tossing it in your backyard bin. Cat Litter
Let’s start with why traditional litter failed us for so long. Most conventional cat litter is bentonite clay, which forms those big clumps that make cleaning the litter box easy, but it’s not biodegradable at all. Bentonite is a sedimentary rock; it takes millions of years to form, and when you toss a clump of it in a landfill, it’ll sit there for just as long—plus, it can leach trace amounts of heavy metals into groundwater over time. Then there’s silica gel litter, which is even worse for the planet: it’s a synthetic, non-porous plastic byproduct that never breaks down, and some brands even contain tiny plastic beads that can harm wildlife if they escape. Even the so-called “natural” litters that used to be made from untreated pine or wheat back in the day had big flaws: they tracked everywhere, had weird odors, and didn’t clump well, which meant you were still tossing whole handfuls of litter every time you cleaned the box. That’s why, over the last 15 years, the pet care industry has shifted to what we now call “plant-based” litters, and many of these are truly compostable—if you use them correctly.
Not all plant-based litters are the same, though. As a supplier, we test every batch of litter we bring to market, and we’ve learned that the best compostable cat litter is made from specific, processed organic materials that can actually break down in a home compost bin or a commercial compost facility, without leaving behind microplastics or toxins. Let’s break down the most common, science-backed materials: first, corn cob. Corn cob litter is one of the oldest plant-based options, but modern versions aren’t just dried corn cobs—they’re heat-treated to kill bacteria, milled to a consistent size, and coated with a food-grade binding agent so they clump like clay. When corn cobs break down, they’re high in carbon, which is actually a great addition to most compost bins, and they don’t have any synthetic chemicals. The second big one is wheat bran or wheat middlings. Wheat-based litters are dense, so they don’t track as much as corn, and they clump tightly for easy scooping. But here’s the thing: wheat is a grain, so it can attract pests if you compost it at home, right? That’s a common misconception, but if you’re managing your compost correctly—turning it regularly, maintaining the right balance of carbon to nitrogen, and not adding too much at once—it’s not a problem. The third material, and one we’ve found works best for our customers, is hemp. Hemp litter is made from the inner fibers of the hemp stalk, which are super absorbent, naturally odor-resistant, and have a neutral pH that doesn’t irritate cats’ paws. Best of all, hemp breaks down quickly—usually in 2 to 3 months in a hot compost bin—and it doesn’t attract pests because it’s processed to remove any of the starches that draw rodents.
Now, the key word here is “compostable” has to be defined, because there’s a big difference between home compostable and commercial compostable. The Federal Trade Commission’s Green Guides set rules for marketing eco-friendly products, and litter brands that claim to be compostable have to meet specific standards: for home compostable litter, it has to break down within 12 months in a typical backyard compost bin, without leaving toxic residue. Commercial compostable litter can break down faster, usually within 90 days, because industrial compost facilities maintain consistent high temperatures (130 to 170 degrees Fahrenheit) that kill pathogens and speed up decomposition. A lot of new brands skip this distinction, so as a supplier, we make a point to clearly label our litter as “home compostable” for backyard bins and “commercial compostable” for facilities that accept pet waste. That’s important because a lot of people buy a litter labeled compostable, toss it in their cold, slow backyard bin, and get frustrated when it’s still there months later.
There’s another big point people don’t talk about: what you put into the compost bin with the litter. Cat waste, including urine-soaked litter clumps, has to be handled carefully. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has guidelines for composting pet waste, because cat feces can carry Toxoplasma gondii, a parasite that’s harmful to humans, especially pregnant people. That doesn’t mean you can’t compost it—it means you have to follow the rules. For home compost, if you’re using litter that’s certified home compostable, you should only compost the solid waste clumps, not whole bags of litter, and you should bury them at least a foot deep in the center of your compost pile where temperatures are highest. If you have a commercial compost facility nearby, many now accept pet waste, but you have to check first—some facilities only accept food waste, and others have limits on the amount of pet litter you can drop off. We also recommend that customers never compost clay litter or silica litter, because those won’t break down, and they’ll contaminate the entire compost batch.
As a supplier, I’ve seen the shift in customer demand firsthand. Five years ago, 10% of our orders were for compostable litter; today, that number is closer to 60%. I’ve heard from so many customers that they were tired of paying for heavy, dusty clay litter that ended up in landfills, and they wanted a more sustainable option that still worked for their cat. I also hear the common complaints: “it’s too dusty,” “it tracks all over my house,” “it doesn’t clump well.” Those are valid, and that’s why our team spends so much time testing and refining our compostable litter. We recently switched to adding a small amount of bentonite as a binding agent, but only a trace amount—less than 1%—so it still meets the home compostable standards, and it makes the clumps tight and easy to scoop, which eliminates the biggest hassle for cat owners. We also mill our hemp fibers to a medium grain size, so it doesn’t track across hardwood or tile floors, and we add a natural, plant-based odor control made from activated coconut shell that doesn’t have any synthetic fragrances that could irritate cats’ sensitive noses.
There’s also a myth that compostable cat litter is more expensive than traditional litter, which used to be true, but over the last few years, the cost has come way down. We price our compostable litter at just 15% more than high-quality clay litter, and when you factor in that it’s lighter (so you pay less for shipping, and it’s easier to carry to the litter box), and that you don’t have to haul heavy bags to the dump every month, it ends up being cheaper in the long run. Plus, many cities offer compost drop-off programs that are free or low-cost, so you don’t have to pay for trash bags full of non-biodegradable litter.
That said, there are still challenges with compostable litter that we’re working to solve as an industry. For one, not every area has access to compost facilities that accept pet waste, which is a big barrier for rural customers. A lot of people I talk to in small towns still have to either toss their compostable litter in the trash or drive 30 minutes or more to a compost drop-off. We’re working on a partnership with a national compost network to offer mail-back compostable litter bins for customers who don’t have local access, so they can send their used litter to a facility that will process it properly. Another challenge is accessibility: compostable litter is still only sold in major pet stores and online, so it’s not as easy to pick up on a trip to the grocery store as clay litter. That’s something we’re working on, too—we’re in talks with several major grocery chains to add our litter to their pet aisles, so it’s available to more people.
Let’s also talk about the environmental impact, because that’s the whole point. A single cat produces about 4 pounds of waste a month, which adds up to almost 50 pounds a year. For a household with two cats, that’s 100 pounds of litter waste every year. A 2022 study by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) found that pet waste makes up about 1% of total household waste in the U.S., and most of that is non-biodegradable litter. If every household with a cat switched to compostable litter that’s properly processed, that would keep millions of pounds of waste out of landfills every year, and it would reduce the amount of heavy metals and microplastics leaching into groundwater. It’s a small change for each individual, but when you multiply it by the millions of cat owners around the world, it adds up to a big difference for the planet.
At the end of the day, the best compostable cat litter is one that works for both you and your cat. It shouldn’t be dusty, it should clump well, it shouldn’t track all over your house, and it should actually break down when you’re ready to dispose of it. As a supplier, we don’t sell “eco-friendly” litter just because it has a catchy label—we test every batch to make sure it meets our standards for safety for cats, performance for owners, and sustainability for the planet. If you’re not sure which compostable litter is right for you, feel free to reach out to our team for advice. We work with individual cat owners, small pet shops, and even large retail chains, and we’re always happy to help you find a litter that fits your needs. We look forward to partnering with you to make the switch to compostable cat litter, for your cat, for your home, and for the planet.
If you have questions about our compostable litter, bulk orders for your store, or custom formulations for your brand, don’t hesitate to connect with our sales team for a no-obligation consultation. We’re here to help you make a sustainable choice that works for your cats and your business.
Iron Oxide References
- U.S. Federal Trade Commission. (2012). Complying with the Green Guides. Retrieved from official FTC consumer protection resources
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Composting Pet Waste Safely. Retrieved from CDC environmental health guidelines
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2022). Municipal Solid Waste Generation, Recycling, and Disposal in the United States: Facts and Figures for 2020. Retrieved from EPA Sustainable Materials Management reports
- American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. (2023). Guide to Cat Litter Safety and Environmental Impact. Retrieved from ASPCA pet care resources
Lingshou County LM Mineral Products Co., Ltd.
As one of the most professional cat litter manufacturers and suppliers in China, we’re featured by quality products and good service. Please rest assured to buy customized cat litter made in China here from our factory. Contact us for more details.
Address: Dongzhuang Village, Nanyanchuan Township, Lingshou County, Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province
E-mail: lmwtwz@163.com
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