The simplest process to recycle all your kitchen scraps as well as yard waste into nutrient-rich compost is by composting. However, you must be aware that not all organic materials are good to add to your compost pile. There are numerous reasons that include funky odors that can attract rodents and pests. In terms of yard waste, there are certain waste that you may not want to add be because it takes a very long time to decompose and it can get frustrating. Above all these reasons you do not wish to add certain materials to your compost that could potentially harm all the plants in the garden. In case if you are in search of the idea of possible materials that you could add to your compost in order to receive nutrient-rich compost then you have stopped by the right place. We will discuss about the various compostable materials and which ones are good for you and not so good, stay tuned.
What not to put in compost?
There are numerous scraps in your kitchen and waste from your yard that are extremely useful for your composting pile however; few waste products are not so good for your pile. Compostable materials like stale bread, eggshells, citrus peels, and onion scraps are good but always recommended to add them in smaller portions. Let’s take a quick look at materials that you should never add to your compostable pile.
Fish and meat scraps
Old seafood has a terrible stench and rotting meat also has foul smells. The smells from this food are definitely repulsive to us however, they attract plenty of other creatures that include wild critters, flies, rats, raccoons, and skunks. You would even notice that your neighbor’s pets would also seem to be attracted to these kinds of smells. If you’re not into organizing picnics for all the local fauna then I recommend to never had bones, fish, and meat in the composting pile. Maybe the compost bin in your backyard has an airtight lid but these animals can definitely smell through all the tight lids you may have.
Oils, fats, and dairy
Dairy products like yogurt, sour cream, milk, butter, and cheese along with oils and fats must never be added to your compost pile because they do attract plenty of visitors. I always recommend leaving out processed foods with plenty of fats and dairy from your composting pile.
Wood or plants that are treated with preservatives or pesticides
I always suggest to never add plans that are treated with herbicides, fungicides, or insecticides to your composting pile. There are certain chemicals that are utilized to avoid insects and even keep away plant diseases, these chemicals could kill all the composting organisms that are extremely beneficial. In addition, the herbicides will also have a negative effect on the plants as soon as you add compost to the soil. This is the same with wood that is treated, vanished, stained or painted.
In addition, through the above points there are also certain materials that you must be careful of that include;
- Debris from the black walnut tree
- Cat or dog waste
- Charcoal ash
- Weeds with developed seeds
- Insect-infested or diseased plants
That’s all for now folks and I do hope that this article has given you more clarity on what not to put in the compost. So, all the best and happy composing!