Composting is an effective way to turn food waste into nutrient-filled soil that can be used for gardens and other projects. When it comes to adding bones to your compost pile, caution is advised. Bones take a long time to break down and can attract unwanted critters to your pile.
There is a risk of injury when handling bones. In this article, we’ll discuss why it’s not recommended to compost bones and what alternatives are available.
Can You Compost Bones?
It’s not recommended to compost bones because they can take a long time to break down and attract critters like skunks and rodents. While some softer or smaller bones may compost, it’s not worth the risk of attracting animals to your compost pile.
There’s also the risk of injuring yourself when handling bones and adding them to your compost pile. If you still want to compost bones, make sure you only add small soft bones like fish bones, poultry bones, and marrow bones.
Stick to other compostable materials like vegetable and fruit scraps, coffee grounds, tea bags, grass clippings, and eggshells. If you don’t want to compost your bones, there are other alternatives.
You can bury them in your garden and let them decompose naturally. You can also wrap them in newspaper and throw them away in the trash, or simply throw them in the woods. Whichever route you choose, make sure to always be cautious and careful when disposing of bones!
How Long Does it Take Bones to Compost?
Adding bones to your compost pile can take a long time and may not be worth the effort. Depending on the type of bone you are adding, it can take months or even years for them to break down.
If you are adding bones from large animals such as cows or pigs, the process can take several years. Even smaller animal bones like chicken or fish bones can take months to compost. It is probably best to avoid adding bones to your compost pile due to the long decomposition process.
If you are looking for an alternative to composting bones, you can opt to bury them. This can help speed up the process of breaking down bones as well as reduce the risk of attracting unwanted critters.
Burying bones prevents you from having to risk injuring yourself when handling large bones. In the end, it is best to avoid adding bones to your compost pile in order to prevent long decomposition times and possible injury.
Are All Bones Suitable for Composting?
It’s important to know that not all bones are suitable for composting. Bones from mammals and birds can be composted, such as bones from chicken and beef. Bones from fishes are also suitable for composting, but it’s important to make sure the bones are from smaller fish.
Large fish bones will take a long time to break down and can contaminate your compost with mercury.
It’s also important to make sure there is no meat left on the bones, as this will attract unwanted pests. You should also avoid bones from other animals such as reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates, as these bones will not break down easily.
You can crush bones from larger animals such as cows, pigs, and sheep, and use them as a soil amendment. This will help to speed up the process of decomposition and will provide your soil with important minerals such as calcium and phosphorous. You should always be careful when handling large animal bones, as they can be sharp and can cause serious injury.
Why Composting Bones is Not Recommended
Composting bones is generally not recommended because it can attract critters, take a long time to break down, and can be dangerous if you’re not careful. Critters like rodents and birds can be attracted to the bones in your compost pile, so if you don’t want uninvited guests, you should avoid composting bones.
The process of breaking down bones can take a long time, which can turn away potential beneficial composting bacteria. There is a risk of hurting yourself if you don’t handle the bones properly.
If you want to add something to your compost pile that can help break down the other materials in it, it’s better to use something like eggshells or coffee grounds. They break down faster, won’t attract critters, and are much safer to handle. If you’re looking for a safe and effective way to add nutrient-rich material to your compost pile, these are great options.
Attracting Critters
Adding bones to your compost pile is not recommended as it will attract critters. It’s best to avoid doing so, as certain animals are drawn to bones for the nutrients and minerals found in them.
For instance, mice, rats, and other rodents have been known to notice the scent of bones and be drawn to them. This can be a problem for composters, as a pile of bones could attract large numbers of undesirable guests. Composting bones can also be a long and tedious process.
Bones take much longer to decompose than other organic materials, like leaves, grass clippings, and vegetable scraps.
This can cause your compost pile to be unbalanced, and the decomposition process will take much longer than with other materials. The presence of bones may prevent other organic materials from breaking down properly.
It’s important to remember that adding bones to your compost pile can be dangerous as well. Bones can be sharp and can cause injury if you’re not careful. If you decide to add bones to your compost pile, it’s best to wear thick gloves and other protective gear to avoid injuring yourself.
Composting bones is not recommended due to the potential for attracting critters, the long decomposition process, and the risk of injury. If you’d like to add bones to your compost pile, it’s important to consider the potential risks and to take the necessary safety precautions.
Long Decomposition Process
It’s important to be aware that the process of breaking down bones in a compost pile can be long and tedious. For this reason, it’s generally not recommended to add bones to your compost pile. Bones can take years to break down and release the minerals and nutrients they contain.
As a result, you may end up with an unfinished pile of compost that doesn’t provide much benefit.
While composting bones may be possible in some cases, it can attract unwanted pests and animals to your compost pile. If you’re looking for an alternative way to dispose of your bones, consider burying them in an outdoor garden or in a more remote area. This will not only help breakdown the bones in a more natural and efficient way, but also help keep away any unwanted critters. You can also look into other composting methods, such as vermiculture or thermophilic composting, which may be more suitable for composting bones.
Risk of Injuring Yourself
It is important to consider the potential risk of injury when adding bones to your compost pile. Bones can be very sharp and can cause injury if handled improperly.
It is best to use a pair of heavy-duty gloves when handling bones. It is important to keep your compost pile away from any pets or children who might be tempted to explore it. Another risk is that when bones decompose, they can release toxic chemicals into the air, soil, and water.
If you are composting in an area that has little air circulation, such as a basement, these chemicals can linger and be hazardous to your health.
It is important to ensure that there is adequate ventilation in the area where you are composting and that you are wearing a face mask to protect yourself. In general, it is best to avoid composting bones as the process is slow and can attract pests. If you do choose to compost bones, be sure to follow the safety and environmental guidelines to protect yourself and the environment.
Alternatives to Composting Bones
Instead of composting bones, you can choose to bury them in the garden. Bury them at least 10 inches deep and cover them with a layer of soil to deter animals from digging them up.
As a bonus, the nitrogen and minerals released from the bones during decomposition can be absorbed by nearby plants. You can choose to discard your bones in the trash. You should make sure to wrap them in several layers of plastic first to prevent them from attracting pests or scavenging animals.
If you’re feeling extra eco-friendly, you can even put them in a compostable bag.
You can consider donating your bones to a pet food production facility. These facilities usually accept bones as a source of nutrition for their products. Not only will you be diverting waste from landfills, but you’ll also be helping to feed fur babies in need. So if you’re looking for a way to dispose of bones, consider one of these alternative options.
Conclusion
Composting bones can be a tricky process. To avoid potential dangers and avoid attracting critters, it is advised not to add bones to your compost pile.
The decomposition process of bones can be lengthy, and it could be too long to be considered efficient composting. If you decide to compost bones, you should make sure that the bones are of an appropriate size, otherwise you risk injuring yourself when handling them. If you want to dispose of bones, there are safer and more efficient alternatives than composting.
Burying the bones in soil, or disposing of them in a safe way. By taking the necessary precautions and avoiding composting bones, you can ensure that your compost pile remains healthy and safe.