Rather than transferring the biodegradable kitchen and household waste to the landfill, building a compost pile is a practical solution to the waste problem. Compost can inhibit some plant diseases and pests, remove the need for chemical fertilizers, and increase the water efficiency of your plantings. However, some things should never go into your compost bin or pile.
Food Waste
Beyond attracting insects and rodents, these materials present other problems in composting.
1. Rice
Raw rice can produce bacteria that is dangerous. So you would never want to include it in a compose pile, if you are looking for certain nutrients that rice contain, just cook the rice beforehand.
2. Used cooking oil, grease and fat
These materials don’t readily degrade and can also coat other materials inhibiting breakdown.
3. Meat and bones
These materials as you can assume do not degrade well or quickly. Bones will take far far longer then you I am sure are willing to wait and the meat will just attract insects and rodents.
4. Dairy products
These materials degrade rapidly and can produce pretty vile odors.
5. Walnut shells
Contain juglone that is deadly to plants. It is one of those natural items that are just not a good idea for the health of future plants to plan on having.
Other Materials
6. Paper
Some types of paper, such as newspapers and brown bags, can enhance your compost pile, particularly if you are using worms. Other kinds of paper like magazines, catalogs and printed cards are simply not degradable and often are made with toxic materials.
7. Wood
Most commercial grade lumber is chemically treated, and thus the sawdust or ashes should never go in the compost pile. The experts from Ware Disposal Co., Inc. say that wood ash is highly alkaline and when moist produces lye, neither of which is good for your compost pile.
8. Human and Animal Waste
Human and carnivorous animal waste should never go in the compost pile because of the risk of disease. Also, cats and dogs have organisms in their digestive tracts that are detrimental to the composting process and to plants. However, the bedding and waste from herbivorous animals such as hamsters is fine, and actually can work to aerate the compost pile.
9. Plant Materials
Invasive plants such as dandelions or ivy will simply use your compost pile as a prime growing spot, so they should go in the garbage. Diseased plants should also go in the trash to avoid transferring problems to your healthy plants.
10. Inorganic Materials
Materials such as chemical fertilizers and pesticides, plastics, cleaning solutions and medical waste are deadly to your compost pile because they kill the natural organic processes. They may also transfer toxins into your garden, and to you when you eat produce you have grown.
Composting is an easy, practical way to build ecological sustainability into your life. The benefits of compost include lowering your water bill, lessening the amount of waste you send to the landfill, and improving your lawn and garden soils.
How about kitchen paper towels