Materials to compost and Materials NOT to compost

[rosiethumb]

I want to make a no-nonsense list of all the materials that I can add to my bin or pile and materials which are a BIG NO NO.....

[Luna]

Here's my list of what you can compost:
- Grass and lawn clippings
- Leaves
- Dry straw
- Kitchen wastes: fruit & vegetable peels, tea bags, coffee grounds etc.
- Leaves
- Hay
- Weeds and other garden wastes
- Wood chips/sawdust (except those from chemically treated wood)

Now for the what not to compost list:
- Chemically treated wood products as I mentioned
- Human wastes
- Meat, fatty wastes, bones (slow to break down & attracts pests)
- Diseased plants
- Pernicious weeds like morning glory, ivy, sheep sorrel can actual grow in your compost bin if you add them. Dispose of them properly.

[Edward12]

do not include manure from hogs as there may be problems regarding internal parasites

[sakura]

Originally Posted by Edward12

do not include manure from hogs as there may be problems regarding internal parasites

Would it be ok if the pigs were being grown specifically for consumption? I'd presume that the growers would make sure that their pigs are healthy so it should mean their wastes are ok too?

[starcandy]

I try to avoid adding bermuda grass clippings as well as weeds because I heard they can survive in the compost bin rather than break down. Meat, fish, dairy products and the like are also avoided, including items that are cooked in oil.

[garden ann]

In my experience, newspapers should be shredded thoroughly and mixed with the other stuff or else it clumps up and creates an anaerobic environment.

And also when it clumps and you don't try to separate or mix with other stuff, there is a bigger possibility that the pile will stink.

[Luna]

Originally Posted by garden ann

In my experience, newspapers should be shredded thoroughly and mixed with the other stuff or else it clumps up and creates an anaerobic environment.

And also when it clumps and you don't try to separate or mix with other stuff, there is a bigger possibility that the pile will stink.

True. Newspaper has the tendency to smell when it's wet. I don't know if it's because of the paper or of the ink, but if left moist for too long, it really starts to stink.

As suggested, shred the paper by soaking them a little in water and tearing them with your fingers (or the blender, or the food processor). Mix throughly with some of the drier stuff you'll be adding to your compost bin, or spread it around to prevent the clumps. It'll break down faster that way too.

[wrigglerman]

my list

grass + manure + moisture = very good
urine : trial and error thing
meat, fish , oil , fats, cooked food ==== BIG NO-NO
kitchen scraps = get stinky if not buried deep into the pile
newspaper : needs to be shredded
cardboard => good when it's the corrugated one
shredded dried leaves + tree and shrub prunings + weeds ==>YES
woodchips - semi-good because you get semi-compost in the end

[starcandy]

^ with the cardboard, do you put them as is, or do you peel off the outer layer with the ink? How about cardboard folders and envelopes? Would they be ok?

[mistermaster]

I had a pile once which started getting stinky. Tried a variety of choices but finally settled on a cheap bale of straw from the feed store. Each time i add material to my pile i also put in a handful of straws. that kept the pile cooking.

i also have access to coffee grounds from the coffee shops around town.

vegetables stands are good sources of greens----spoils which they throw away. Salad shops also have green trimmings from their salad preparations

These can all make a good pile heating up pretty quickly if you layer it and turn regularly

[vermigiant]

Talking about straws, the horse manure that i raked from the barn has lots of straw/hay in it. And i say, the straw/hay is really effective in the aeration of the bin.

By the way when you use ground coffee, try throwing the filters in the bin too. They can easily absorb moisture. and prevent stinking of your pile

[honeylemon]

Do not put meat, grease, eggs or animal products but egg shells are ok. Cigarette butts are not ok, too. Do not put petroleum-based products, like "soft" plastic or rubber, no metals or chemicals.

These are OK: tea bags, banana peels, apple cores, any leftover raw veggies and leaves, leftover fruit, tree leaves and grass and wood ashes.

[John S.]

These items are still debatable whether they can be good for your pile or not. But some have been adding these items to their pile and got good results.
1.Peat Moss

2. Eggshells should be ground up to hasten its decomposition·

3. Fireplace ashes are highly alkaline.* Use sparingly since alkalinity can reaise soild pH. Use only ashes left over from untreated wood.

[krissy]

the rule of thumb is 2 parts green to a part of browns.

1. Greens (high in nitrogen)
Grass Clippings – easy does it
Yard Trimmings – leave out diseased plant waste and twigs larger than 1 inch in diameter
Manure – no household pets like cats or dogs, they carry harmful bacteria
Food Scraps – meat and dairy excluded

2. Browns (high in carbon)
Dried Leaves – shredded will speed up the process
Straw – watch out for straw that carries weed seeds, they will survive the composting process
Sawdust – untreated wood only
Bark – smaller pieces the better

[farmerbrie]

These are items that has NO place in my bin or pile:

• Plastics, metals, ceramics and pressure treated lumber
• Lime, items treated with herbicides or pesticides or diseased plants
• Pet feces (dog, cat, bird)
• Meat, milk, eggs, oils
• Magazines because of inks and dyes

[beezybody]

Some items are still debatable as far as adding them to your pile is concerned.

1. Peat Moss is a regular gardener's companion and it is very useful for composting but it has a very strong carbon footprint because the peat moss that you have now has traveled a long, long way to get to you.

2. Some people include bones in their piles. But this should be ground and used sparingly because bones attract pests. They are also slow to compost. In my opinion, I think it is best to leave bones out of our piles.

[farmerpiper]

Items to avoid:

1. Materials such as treated wood and plants sprayed heavily with pesticides

2. Clippings from diseased plants that could be possible sources of the disease

3. Clippings from invasive plants because they can cause a new population
explosion

[arianne]

Here's my list:

Good greens for compost:
Fruit and vegetable scraps, eggshells, coffee grounds, grass and plant clippings

Good browns:
Dry leaves, finely chopped wood & bark chips, straw, shredded newspaper, untreated wood sawdust

Avoid the following:
Anything with meat, grease, fat and oil
Diseased plant materials
Dog or cat waste
Weeds that go to seed
Dairy products
Sawdust/chips from treated wood

[wrigglerman]

Originally Posted by sakura

Would it be ok if the pigs were being grown specifically for consumption? I'd presume that the growers would make sure that their pigs are healthy so it should mean their wastes are ok too?

This is just a precautionary measure because there are internal parasites of pigs which can also affect humans and there are also parasites of humans that use the pigs as an intermediate host or transport host

[dumbledorf17]

Great Greens

Mowed grass clippings
Fruit and Vegetable waste (potatoes and onions should be cut up to make sure they don't grow)
Any plant wastage (Such as old flowers or carrot tops)
Manure
Weeds (I leave perennials and stubborn ones out)
Old potted and bedding plants
Tea bags and tea leaves
Seaweed



Browns

Leaves (Including green ones which are technically browns)
Prunings, sticks, twigs and branches (Cut them up into small pieces)
Paper (not the glossy sort)
Shredded paper (even shredded bank statements)
Newspaper (Scrunched up or shredded)
Bits of cardboard (Empty tissue rolls and egg boxes)
Kitchen towel and tissues
Coffee grounds
Eggshells
Pet bedding from herbivorous pets (rabbits and guinea pigs)
Straw and wood shavings
Hair (yours and your pets)

[rosiethumb]

Thanks so much for the inputs!

I've tried mixing in most what you have suggested and so far it's been one good ride with some minor bumps along the way (ants!)

I haven't tried peat moss and seaweeds though.

[mistermaster]

1. Animal Wastes : especially cat and dog litter because they may contain
pathogens and parasites.

2. Meat, Dairy and Bread Products : they tend to attract flies,
rodents, bears and other creatures that are less desirable as compost
visitors; YOU CAN COMPOSE THESE IF YOU ARE USING THE BOKASHI
METHOD OF COMPOSTING

3. Clippings from invasive plants: these plants may survive in your compost
pile and give rise to a population explosion.

4. Composting Clippings From Diseased Plants: they are viable sources of
plant pests and diseases.

5. Toxic Materials: be careful about incorporating toxic materials into your
compost especially if you plan to use this for your vegetables or fruit
trees. Examples of these toxic materials is wood shavings which come
from trees sprayed with pesticides.

6. Citrus, onions, and eggshells: citrus has oils that worms may find offensive; worms may not eat onions at first but onions will eventually decompose in the pile; eggshells are difficult to decompose by the worms themselves so it is sound advice to crush them first.

[dandelion]

Do not compost:

• meat and fish
• fats and oils
• dairy products
• coal and coke ash
• cat litter or dog feces
• glossy papers and newspapers
• plants infected with persistent diseases such as clubroot and white rot
• pine needles

Compost :

• grass cuttings
• weeds
• fruit and vegetable scraps
• plant remains
• old flowers and bedding plants
• young hedge clippings
• poultry manure
• tea bags
• coffee grounds and coffee filters
• egg shells
• dried grass and weeds
• old straw and hay
• wood ash
• corrugated boards (avoid sticky tape)
• paper towels
• napkins
• egg boxes
• brown paper bags