Composting Tips: What Not to Put in Compost

Composting is not an exact science. There are a wide variety of items that can be added to a compost heap. The more important question is, what not to put in compost. There are many items that do not biodegrade well. Others are hazardous to your health. Still others stunt plant growth. Here's a breakdown of the most common items gardeners recommend you not put in compost.

Meats and meat by-products do not compost well. They tend to degrade very slowly. They may produce fungus as well as carrying harmful bacteria. Contrary to popular belief, you should not put fish or other seafood in your compost pile either. This theory came about due to the tale of Squanto planting fish with his corn. In actuality, fish in a compost pile has much the same result as putting meat in a compost pile.

Not all wood can be composted. Black walnut can kill some plant life. So can its leaves. You should also never include treated wood chips in your compost pile. The chemicals they contain can contaminate your compost. You should never add commercial fertilizer or manure to your vegetable compost if you are truly concerned for the environment. The nitrogen and other chemicals in both can cause algae to overgrow and kill pond life.

Limit the ash you put in your compost pile. A small amount of ash is good for plants. Too much can kill them. If the ash you are adding is from burning treated wood, it should never be recycled as compost. Likewise, black walnut, for the reasons cited above. Commercial fire-log ash should never be put in your compost heap. It contains harmful chemicals.

Avoid putting anything containing chemical waste in your compost pile. That includes materials used in construction such as drywall or painted wood.

Compost should contain:

*grass clippings

*finely shredded leaves and branches

*yard waste

*fruit and vegetable scraps

*coffee

*eggshells

*red wiggler worms (optional)

That's it. Adding other items or compost accelerators to your compost heap is just asking for trouble.

Never put weeds in your compost pile. The seeds will re-grow in your garden. I know a few people who do it regularly. They always complain of weed growth about halfway through gardening season. They just can't understand why those weeds appear so suddenly. You should always remove the seeds of any plant you add to your compost heap.

Never put feces or urine in your compost pile. It sounds disgusting but it must be said. This is true whether you're talking about humans or pets. The bacteria in feces and urine can be harmful to plant life. Remember, anything you feed your plants goes right back into you. Using vegetable matter only will insure the most disease free compost.

More from Jaipi:

No Time for Compost? Try These Homemade Natural Fertilizers

Is Your Eco-Friendly Compost Really Green?

Super Simple Garden Compost Guide for Beginning Gardeners