Here is a list of materials you should NOT use in your compost as they can be harmful to your plants, can slow your composting down, and even attract unwanted predators to your property.
Composting is a great way to recycle and get great fertilizer to grow vegetables, and other plants with which will make them grow faster. There are many items you can use in your compost and there are some stuff that can be very harmful to your compost and even your health. This is a list of what you should NOT put in your compost. Some things simply do not work well in compost, such as meat, fat, grease, or oil which can actually preserve items in your compost and slow the process down plus they can attract unwanted pest or Lime which has too high of an alkaline level and will cause your compost to stop working. Dog and cat feces often contain microorganisms which are not healthy for your compost. Ashes, coal, and charcoal should be avoided as they may contain chemicals that can be harmful to plants when the compost is used in gardening. Scroll down to see a list of materials you should never use in compost, step by step instructions, common questions and answers and much more.
List of Materials You Should Never Use in Your Compost
Items which you should never use in your compost are:
Chicken feces used in compost
When using chicken feces (manure) you must be careful because it contains nitrogen which if not handled properly can contaminate your compost.
- Ashes
- Bones
- Coal
- Charcoal
- Dog feces/Cat feces or Kitty litter
- Fats/Grease or Oil's
- Lime
- Newspaper/Colored or Glossy Paper
- Pesticides-Do not use pesticides, pesticide treated plants, or pesticide treated grasses.
- Disease or pest infested plants
- Poison ivy
- Invasive weeds with seeds
- Large branches
- Sand
- Debris
- Meat or fish scraps
- Cheese or dairy products
- Sawdust from pressure treated plywood or lumber
- Non combustible materials such as plastics, metal or glass (2019. Www1.nyc.gov).
Chicken feces used in compost
When using chicken feces (manure) you must be careful because it contains nitrogen which if not handled properly can contaminate your compost.
Reference:
1. What you can and cannot compost. Retrieved Mar. 20, 2013 from http://www.compostinstructions.com/what-you-can-and-cannot-compost/
2. (2019). Www1.nyc.gov. Retrieved 30 January 2019, from https://www1.nyc.gov/assets/dsny/downloads/pdf/promotional-materials/outdoor-composting-guide-06339-f.pdf
1. What you can and cannot compost. Retrieved Mar. 20, 2013 from http://www.compostinstructions.com/what-you-can-and-cannot-compost/
2. (2019). Www1.nyc.gov. Retrieved 30 January 2019, from https://www1.nyc.gov/assets/dsny/downloads/pdf/promotional-materials/outdoor-composting-guide-06339-f.pdf
