Composting is important. However, just like recycling, it is only important and valuable if it can be done properly. If you attempt to compost items that do not break down quickly and easily, there can be a number of problems. One example is if you try composting plastic, obviously it could take centuries to break down and therefore is equivalent to littering. It also produces immense amounts of carbon emissions while breaking down. Other things might technically be capable of breaking down, but go against best practices. Here are some items you should not compost.
Meat- Human bodies break down so you would think animals do too. Meat and fish can break down however they take much longer than other items you would typically compost. They also are very capable of attracting rodents and stray or wild animals. They produce a nasty smell. Because of this, it is important to have a plan to consume all animal products before they go to waste in some way or another before they get a chance to go bad or be unconsumable. Besides, if we are going to go through the process of producing fossil fuels for consuming animals, we might as well do the bare minimum and eat the whole thing.
Dairy- Similar to the meat, dairy attracts wild animals. For this reason, it is again better to consume the product before it even needs to be composted or thrown out. Unwanted animals are not good because they might destroy your compost and make it less nutritious. So, again you technically can compost dairy products, it just is not suggested. At this point, you might as well play it safe and go vegan.
Flour or rice- To continue the list of foods that attract animals, I do not suggest putting bread, pastries, pasta, or rice into your bin.
Oil- To finish the pattern, oil is another food I do not suggest trying to compost. Just like the rest, it will make your compost smell. When I talk to people who do not compost, they claim that they do not want to because it will smell. However if you compost properly, you will not have a bad smelling backyard and animals will not attack you.
Weeds with seeds- If you have weeds, they are generally totally fine to compost. However, if your weeds have seeds and you try to compost them, you could risk accidentally planting them (directly in the compost) and you will end up with a much bigger weed problem. You could also then end up with weeds invading your garden if you try to use the compost in your garden bed.
Walnuts- Although walnuts seem like just another plant, they contain something called juglone. Juglone is toxic to a number of plants (and especially foods like tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, eggplant, as well as asparagus, cabbage, peas and rhubarb) so it would therefore be bad to use your compost for a garden (which is it’s best purpose). Keep an eye out for foods with juglone!
Ash and Candles- Mainly coal ash, for example charcoal, is often treated with chemicals that do not belong in a compost bin. All natural wood charcoal is still fine. On the other hand, most candles are made using paraffin wax, which can't be composted due to it being a petroleum-based product. Beeswax can be put in compost piles but can take a very long time to break down.
Conventional Makeup and beauty products- Wipes (whether they are flushable or not), cotton balls, or makeup that is not made of all natural ingredients should not be composted. Products in or on them could harm your compost and, unfortunately, they are better off in the trash. Go with natural beauty!
Paper synthetically coated- Dyes and ink on paper, let alone the plastic that coats them should not be composted. This is because they are made with toxic chemicals. They could be thrown in a scrap paper pile if you want to try shredding it for a pet (to poop in) but they are not suggested for gardening compost.
Soap- I do not recommend trying to compost soap unless it is labled compostable or it is something like a soap nut. Those are fine. I suggest using all of your soap, There is no need to compost it. If you have slivers of bars, you can try pressing them together, or adding them to a bottle and making a diy liquid soap.
As a helpful reminder, please keep composting the following: vegetable scraps or seeds (if you can’t plant them), fruit peels (but take off the stickers!), egg shells, coffee grounds, tea leaves (but not tea bags), natural brown paper bags, cardboard (with no plastic tape), leaves, rabbit or hamster pet bedding, dry cat or dog food… and the list goes on!
I hope this article is useful and taught you something new. Composting is easily one of the best ways to save the planet, but it is still extremely important to do so correctly. I’d be happy to make another one of these “guides” so let me know if you enjoyed it.
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