Composting is an easy way to turn kitchen and garden waste into something useful for the garden. But not everyone is equally suitable for it. Some food waste produces an odor that can attract pests, and some yard waste can slow or stop the decomposition process, which can be very unpleasant. You don't want to add anything that could harm you or your plants when using finished compost in your garden, right? In this article you will find out what is not allowed in the compost and which household waste that you probably do not know about can be composted.
The stench of old seafood or the foul smell of rotting meat is certainly unpleasant. But those same repulsive smells are magnets for raccoons, rats, flies and many other wild animals, including some neighborhood pets. So never put meat, fish or bones in your compost pile. Even if you have a closed compost bin, the smell can attract pests to picnic there.
Dairy products, fats and oils should not be thrown into the compost
Dairy products like cheese, butter, milk, sour cream and yogurt, as well as fats and oils, should be avoided for the same reason: they attract unwanted visitors. Processed foods that are high in dairy or fat should also be eliminated.
Plants & wood that have been treated with chemicals
Never add plants that have been treated with insecticides, fungicides or herbicides to your compost. The residue from chemicals used in the garden to kill insects and control plant diseases can inadvertently kill the beneficial organisms in the compost. Herbicide residues can affect plants once the compost is added. The same goes for wood that has been pressure treated, painted, stained, or varnished.
Plants that are diseased or infested with pests
To kill insects and pathogens such as fungi and bacteria, a hot compost pile (that reaches and maintains a temperature of 60 to 63°C for at least several days) is required. Unfortunately, most home compost bins and piles never reach such high temperatures that pests and diseases can survive in them.
What is not allowed in the compost – weeds that have been sownt: The same goes for weeds that have developed seeds that can generally survive as long as compost temperatures do not reach 140°F (63°C). There is no point in sowing next year's weeds while you are spreading your finished compost.
Dog and cat feces do not belong in the compost heap
Dog and cat feces can turn the end product into hazardous waste because both cats and dogs can carry bacteria and parasites that cause illness in humans. Roundworms are the most common problem in dog feces. Cat feces and cat litter are even more worrying because they can carry the pathogen that causes toxoplasmosis, a disease that is particularly dangerous for pregnant women as it can cause serious harm to the unborn child.
What is not allowed in the compost – black walnut tree debris
Most untreated garden and yard waste is a good addition to your compost pile, but there are exceptions. Leaves, branches and especially the roots of the black walnut tree contain a natural substance calledJuglon, which inhibits the growth of many plants and can even kill them. Certain plants appear to be more sensitive, including edible plants such as tomatoes, peppers and potatoes, as well as ornamental plants such as azaleas, viburnums and hydrangeas. Research has shown that over time and with sufficient heat, juglone will degrade to the point where it loses its toxicity, but it is better to leave out black walnut residue in the first place.
Coal ash should be avoided
Ashes on Compost – Although you can add ashes from a wood-burning fireplace or fire pit (in limited quantities), you should not add coal ash. First, these materials contain a lot of sulfur, which can make your finished compost too acidic for most plants. Second, charcoal briquettes are often laced with chemicals that can harm plants.
What mistakes should every gardener avoid when composting? You can do thatread here!
These compostable products will amaze you
Now that you know what not to do, here are a few tips. There are many waste products that you may not have thought of, but that you can safely add to your compost bin. However, add the following things only if they are free from the above prohibitions.
- hair and fur
- Trocknerfussel
- Aquarium plants
- Waste from home brewery (used hops and malt)
- Used paper napkins and paper towels
- Ancient herbs and spices
- Unpopped or burnt popcorn
- Cardboard box and paper plates (small pieces, not coated)
- Wooden chopsticks and toothpicks
How can you speed up composting? Thefind out here!
Summary – Composting for Beginners
What can go in the compost?:
- Animal dung from herbivores
- Brown paper products (cardboard rolls, cereal boxes, brown paper bags)
- Paper towels, tissues
- Coffee grounds and filters
- Cotton, wool
- Vacuum cleaner lint and dryer lint made from natural materials
- Very Small Eggshells
- Grass clippings, garden waste
- hair, fur
- Hay, straw
- Houseplants
- Laub
- Nutshells
- Shredded newspaper
- Wood chips, sawdust, toothpicks, burnt matches
- Fruit and vegetable peels
- Old vegetables
- Stale bread
- Corn husks
- Non-glossy advertising mail or catalogs (shredded)
- Pine cones
- Paper-Egg Cartons
- Tea leaves/tea used
- Cooked rice/pasta
- Wine corks
- Simple paper documents
Tipp!Some materials, such as onion scraps, citrus peels, stale bread and eggshells, are best added to compost in small amounts.
What is NOT allowed in the compost?:
- Meat products and fishery products
- dairy products
- Treated wood/sawdust
- Sour foods
- Oils or fatty foods
- Pet waste
- Human waste
- Weeds that have gone to seed
- Leftover onions and garlic
- Plastic
- Coated cardboard
- Zellophan
- Poisonous plants
- Sick plants
- Plants treated with pesticides
- Coal ash
- Feminine hygiene products
- Diapers
- Synthetic fabric
- Leather goods
- Shiny paper
- wrapping paper
- Glas
- Black walnut products
