Did you know there are things you should not compost

Things you should not compost

Composting reduces litter output and provides a great soil amendment for gardens. Compost adds nutrients back into your soil, but not everything is there. In fact, understanding what not to put in compost ensures that the end product is safe for your garden use.

In your compost, you should put brown and green materials. Examples include eggshells, vegetable and fruit slices, newspapers, grass clippings, and coffee grounds. Many of the things you throw away every day are biodegradable.

That doesn't mean everything is safe. 15 Things You Can't Compost You Should Know Before You Get Started

Benefits of composting for the garden

Generally, people think that reducing household waste is the real composting benefit. Yes, this is a big advantage, but not the only one. In particular, composting your garden has so many benefits that you should do it. You'll see why composting is important to all gardeners! Improves soil structure You may realize that there are different types of soil or soil structures. For example, you may have sandy, clay, or silt soil. The goal is to have soil that crumbles to the touch, meaning it allows air, water, and energy to pass through. It is important to improve soil structure that feels right.

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Let's take a look at 15 things you should never compost

1. Dog and cat feces

It is safe to add horse, cow, chicken, and rabbit manure to your tank. These forms break down and add valuable nutrients to the soil. It does not apply to dog and cat feces.

Composting dog poop and cat poop is never a good idea because their waste contains microbes and parasites that are not safe to use in your food-growing soil. If you want to compost dog poop (I get it; I have dogs too!), you need to process it separately from your other compost. You can find specialty composts for pet waste, and the finished product should be used on non-food crops.

2. Citrus peels and onions

The natural acid in citrus peels and onions kills the necessary microbes and worms that live in your tank. Also, the skins should be cut into small pieces to decompose quickly. They take forever otherwise. If you ever toss in citrus peel or onion, it's perfect. But those who are in the habit of vermicomposting do not have much of it. Instead of composting my citrus fruits, I make homemade cleaners!

3. Bread and other cereal products

Cake, pasta, and bread are not safe choices as they attract insects. Think about it; These products can mold and start to smell bad. This will attract animals that shouldn't be visitors to your compost bin.

A little crust here and there won't completely damage your compost. My 4-year-old thinks the crust is absolutely disgusting, so we throw some away every now and then. You don't want to compost a loaf of bread or several slices weekly.

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4. Fish and meat products

Fish and meat spoil, but the smell attracts insects and animals from miles away. You don't want the smell of rotting fish and meat outside. On the other hand, fish bones make a wonderful natural fertilizer! So unless you want to stop raccoons and other critters for dinner, composting meat isn't a good idea. Also, because it can cause rotting and bacterial growth, you can add dangerous bacteria to your compost that aren't present in your garden beds.

5. Sticky labels on fruits

You know the labels I'm talking about! The label contains the PLU number for the store and may include the brand name. They are easy to miss. The stickers have a glossy finish. Fruit stickers can litter your compost and are a problem for professional composting companies.

6. Dairy products

Chances are you don't want to invite insects and rodents. So, avoid adding dairy products. Milk, cheese, yogurt, butter, and ice cream are not your compost's friends.

7. Cooking oil

There are a few reasons why you shouldn't add cooking oil. First, it slows down the decomposition process. Second, the scent attracts animals! Also, it will change the humidity of your compost bin.

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8. Sawdust from treated wood

You can make sawdust compost, but it must be from untreated wood. If the wood has been treated with varnish, stain, paint, or pressure treatment, it cannot be added to the compost pile. Wood is treated with chemicals, and you don't want those chemicals ending up in your compost pile. Chemicals are toxic and adding them to compost can negatively affect microbes and plant health. In fact, if you use pressure-treated wood or sawdust, you are adding arsenic and cadmium to your compost.

Both of these are very serious chemicals!

9. Glossy paper

So, you can add newspaper, cardboard, or old paper towels to the compost bin. These paper products come from trees and decompose naturally.

You don't want to add shiny products like magazines or wrapping paper. A special chemical creates a shine on the paper, which contains toxins and does not degrade normally.

10. Personal hygiene products

I know; Some diapers say you can compost them, but you shouldn't compost diapers in the same pot you're going to spread in your vegetable garden.

11. Diseased plants

Never put diseased or pest-infested plants in your compost bin. You're simply spreading the disease, and it's not safe to use in your vegetable garden.

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12. Non-biodegradable materials

Besides shiny paper, you don't want to add glass, plastic, aluminum foil, or metal to your compost pile. The reason? They never fail! The purpose of compost is to add nutrients.

13. Coal ash

Adding ash from your wood pile is fine, but composting coal ash is a different story. Coal ash contains high levels of sulfur and iron, which can kill your plants.

14. Rice

Rice is not suitable for your compost pile. This attracts insects, but also provides a beautiful, fertile ground for harmful bacteria to destroy the rice's beneficial nutrients.

15. Tea and coffee bags

You can and should add tea and coffee to your compost, but they should be bag-less. Some bags contain synthetic fibers that don't break down as easily in compost.

Also, composting K-cups is usually a no-go. You can remove the base from the plastic if you want, but don't throw the whole thing in your compost bin.