What Not to Compost
Composting is an excellent way to reduce your environmental footprint, but it’s important to know what not to add to your compost pile. Dairy, fats and oils, pet waste, and diseased plants should all be avoided as they can attract pests or cause odors.
Human waste, yard waste, and weeds should also not be added to your compost pile. While it might seem convenient to use these materials, they can contaminate the compost, causing it to break down improperly or attract pests. By avoiding these items, you can ensure that your compost will stay healthy and be ready for use in your garden.
Meat
Meat should be kept out of the compost pile. Not only can the proteins and fats attract unwanted pests, but they can also break down and create a slimy, smelly mess. They can even slow down the composting process.
Opt to compost vegetable and fruit scraps only. Fats and oils should also be avoided when it comes to composting.
Lard and vegetable oils can also cause odors, attract pests, and damage the balance of the compost. When disposing of cooking oil and grease, it’s best to toss them in the trash. When it comes to composting, stick to plant-based material only.
Dairy
Avoid adding dairy to your compost pile. This includes milk, cheese, butter, and any other dairy product.
Dairy products are made up of proteins and fats that will break down much slower than plant matter, and they will attract pests and animals. They will also produce a strong, unpleasant odor.
The proteins and fats can bind up nitrogen and other minerals that can be beneficial to the compost. If you have some dairy products that you would like to compost, consider using a bokashi bin instead. This is a type of anaerobic composting that uses an inoculant such as EM-1 or Effective Microorganisms to ferment the food waste. This process produces a compost that is high in beneficial microorganisms, which can help to keep your compost pile healthy.
Fats and Oils
Fats and oils can be tricky when it comes to composting. On the one hand, oils and fats are organic materials and can help provide valuable nutrients for your compost pile; however, they can also attract animals and pests to your compost pile, which can be a major problem. It’s best to avoid adding used cooking oils and fats to your compost pile, as these can slow down the composting process, create odors, and attract unwanted pests. Look for other organic materials that can provide the same benefits without the potential problems that come with oils and fats.
Pet Waste
It’s a good idea to avoid adding pet waste to your compost pile, as it can introduce harmful bacteria and attract pests. Mixing pet waste with compost can also cause unpleasant odors and make composting less enjoyable. If you have animals, it’s best to collect their poop and dispose of it in a separate container.
If you have a large pet, consider adding pet waste to a separate compost pile and keeping it far away from your regular compost pile.
That way, you can still benefit from the natural fertilizer, but you won’t have to worry about the risks associated with pet waste. Another thing to consider is that pet waste is usually high in nitrogen, which can cause the compost pile to become too hot. This can kill beneficial organisms, cause odors, and create an unpleasant environment for your composting project.
Opt for adding high-carbon materials such as leaves, straw, and sawdust.
These materials will help balance out the compost and make sure that it stays at an optimal temperature. Even if you do decide to add pet waste to your compost pile, it’s important to make sure that it is properly treated first. This can be done by composting it separately and then adding it to the main compost pile once it’s fully broken down and is free from hazardous bacteria. Doing this will help to ensure that your compost pile stays safe and healthy, and that your composting project is successful.
Diseased Plants
It’s important to avoid adding diseased plants to your compost pile. Not only will it not break down properly, but it can spread the disease to other plants.
Diseased plants are not only harmful to your garden, but also to your compost pile. If you’re not sure if a plant is diseased, it’s best to err on the side of caution and not add it in. It’s also a good idea to keep diseased plants away from healthy ones so that you don’t spread the disease.
If you have diseased plants in your garden, it’s best to remove them and dispose of them properly. This will help to ensure that the disease doesn’t spread to healthy plants.
You can also try to treat the diseased plants before adding them to your compost pile, but in most cases it’s better to simply remove them and dispose of them in a way that won’t harm other plants. Composting should always be a fun and rewarding experience, so make sure to avoid adding diseased plants to your pile!
Other Considerations
When it comes to composting, there are a few things you should be aware of. Human waste, yard waste, and weeds should not be added to the compost pile. Human waste is simply not safe to add and can spread disease.
Yard waste, such as grass clippings, should also not be added as they can wreak havoc on the balance of your compost pile. If you have weeds, it is better to dispose of them in the trash than to add them to the compost pile since they can regrow and make a mess.
When it comes to composting, make sure you are aware of what you are adding.
Don’t cut corners and make sure you are only adding items like fruits, vegetables, and eggshells. Avoid adding meat, dairy, fats, oils, pet waste, and diseased plants to your compost pile for the health of your compost and to keep it safe. With a little extra attention, you can create the perfect compost pile.
Human Waste
Human waste should never be added to your compost pile. This includes all forms of human waste such as feces, urine, and sanitary products.
Decomposing human waste can cause a number of health risks as it can potentially contain a number of dangerous bacteria and viruses. The smell and appearance of a compost pile contaminated with human waste can be unappealing and off-putting.
Yard waste, such as grass clippings, leaves, and tree branches, can be safely added to compost piles. If a large amount of yard waste is added, the compost pile should be turned regularly to ensure that the materials are correctly broken down and do not create a smelly compost pile.
Weeds should not be added to compost piles as they can regrow and spread throughout the compost pile. If weeds are added to the compost pile, it is important to make sure that any plants that have gone to seed are destroyed before adding them as these can germinate and cause an infestation of weeds. If in doubt, it is best to dispose of weeds in the garbage or by burning.
Yard Waste
Yard waste should usually be kept out of the compost pile. Grass clippings, leaves, and other yard waste can contain weed seeds which can then spread to your garden when you use the compost.
If you want to add yard waste, be sure to check that it is free from any weed seeds and other material you don’t want in your compost. If you do choose to add yard waste to your compost pile, make sure it is properly shredded. This will help it break down more quickly.
You can also mix it with other compost materials, like kitchen scraps and plant debris, to help it break down faster.
Make sure to not add too much yard waste to your compost pile. If the pile is too high with yard waste, it can cause it to become anaerobic and smell bad. If you want to add yard waste, make sure to balance it out with other composting materials and add it in moderation.
Weeds
Weeds can be problematic in a compost pile. Even though some weeds may be considered “beneficial” when left in the garden, they don’t necessarily benefit your compost pile.
Weeds contain large amounts of seeds, which will be spread throughout the compost once it’s ready to use. In turn, these seeds can take root in your garden and cause a lot of issues. The best way to avoid this from happening is by not adding any weeds to your compost pile in the first place.
It’s important to make sure that any weeds you remove from the garden are disposed of properly, so as not to reintroduce them into your compost pile.
When it comes to composting, it’s always better to be safe than sorry. To ensure quality compost, it’s important to be sure that you’re only adding materials that will breakdown easily and won’t affect the quality of your compost. When it comes to weeds, don’t chance it—leave them out of your compost pile.