Can You Compost That? A Guide to What Can and Can’t Be Composted

Composting is an excellent way to recycle organic waste, reduce the amount of garbage going to landfills, and create nutrient-rich soil for gardens. But not everything can be composted, and knowing what is compostable and what isn’t is key to maintaining a healthy compost pile. In this guide, we’ll break down what items are suitable for composting and what should be left out.

Why Composting Matters

Composting transforms organic materials into a rich, dark substance called compost, which is beneficial for plants and soil. By composting, you’re diverting waste from landfills and cutting down on harmful methane emissions that result from organic waste breaking down in anaerobic (without oxygen) conditions. Whether you’re using a backyard compost bin or high-end equipment like Earth Care Composters, knowing what can go in your compost is essential for producing quality compost.

What Can Be Composted?

Let’s start with what you can toss into your compost pile.

Household Kitchen Food Waste

Most household food scraps are compostable. These include vegetable peels, fruit scraps, coffee grounds, tea leaves, and even bread. However, there are certain nuances to composting food waste that will ensure your compost stays healthy and breaks down effectively.

• Bread and Bakery Items: Bread, cakes, and other bakery items can be composted, though in moderation. These items break down quickly but can attract pests, so be sure to bury them under other compost material.
• Vegetables and Fruits: Whether it’s apple cores, banana peels, or carrot tops, fruits and vegetables are a composting staple. They add nitrogen to the compost and break down relatively quickly.
• Cooked and Uncooked Meat, Bones, and Eggshells: These items are technically compostable, but you should be cautious when adding them to your pile. Meat and bones break down slowly and can attract animals, while eggshells add valuable calcium to the soil but take longer to decompose. For home composting, it’s advisable to avoid large quantities of meat or bones unless you’re using a specialized composting system like the one offered by Earth Care Equipment, which can handle tougher materials more efficiently.

Garden Waste

If you have a garden, this is where composting really shines.

• Flowers, Leaves, and Shrubs: These are great compost materials and add structure to your pile. Leaves are especially useful as they balance the nitrogen-rich kitchen waste by adding carbon.
• Rotten Vegetables and Temple Offerings: These materials, especially if you have them in large quantities, are compostable. Even though they are spoiled, rotten vegetables will decompose and turn into rich compost.

What Should Not Be Composted?

Just as important as knowing what can go in your compost is understanding what must stay out. Adding the wrong items can slow down the composting process, create unpleasant odors, and even introduce harmful chemicals into your compost.

Glass and Metal Items

Glass and metal do not break down and should never be added to a compost pile. These materials belong in recycling or regular trash disposal.

Coconut Shells

While coconut shells are organic, they are very tough and take an extremely long time to break down. They could eventually decompose, but unless you’re willing to wait several years, it’s best to avoid adding them to your pile.

Pharmaceuticals, Newspapers, and Magazines

• Pharmaceuticals: Medications can introduce chemicals and contaminants into your compost pile that could harm the microbial balance, plants, or soil when applied later.
• Newspapers and Magazines: These can sometimes be composted if they are printed on non-glossy paper with non-toxic ink. However, it’s usually better to recycle them. Glossy paper, which often contains chemicals, should be avoided.

Plastic Bags and Bottles

Plastics are non-biodegradable and will never break down in a compost pile. Always recycle plastic or dispose of it according to local guidelines.

Dog/Cat Droppings

While animal manure from herbivores like cows or horses can be composted, dog and cat droppings are a no-go. They can carry harmful pathogens that won’t break down properly in a standard compost pile.

Sanitary Pads and Nappies

These products are often made with plastic and contain chemicals that aren’t suitable for composting. Dispose of them in the trash rather than in your compost.

Using Earth Care Equipment for Composting

When it comes to composting, especially if you’re dealing with larger volumes of waste or tougher materials like meat and bones, standard composting methods may not always suffice. This is where Earth Care composting equipment becomes useful. Earth Care provides advanced composting systems that can handle a wider range of organic materials more efficiently than traditional methods.

Their equipment is designed to process tougher materials such as meat and bones, breaking them down into compost without attracting pests or creating foul odors. They also offer solutions for large-scale composting needs, such as in temples or institutions where large amounts of organic waste, including temple offerings, need to be processed.

Conclusion

Composting is a fantastic way to manage organic waste and give back to the earth. By knowing what can and cannot be composted, you’ll avoid common pitfalls and help your compost break down efficiently. Whether you’re handling food scraps, garden waste, or temple offerings, keeping glass, plastics, and other non-compostable materials out is key. And for those who want to take composting to the next level, Earth Care composting equipment offers an advanced solution to manage even the toughest compostable materials.