Why Is Cheese Bad for Composting?

Composting is an easy and fun way to reduce waste, create soil and learn about ecosystems. If done properly, a compost pile should smell like dirt. However, a compost pile that is improperly maintained can turn into a stinky mess that attracts pests.

Kitchen scraps for a compost heap stored in a closed container

Composting Overview

Discarded food scraps and lawn waste are combined to create fertile composted soil naturally, indoors or outdoors. There are many ways to compost, from a small indoor worm bin, to a small outdoor garden bin. Make sure you only include the right type of "green waste" to ensure your compost heap decomposes properly.

Indoor Composting: Vermiculture

Vermiculture, or worm composting, is often done indoors by feeding small amounts of food scraps to a container of red worms. Many types of food scraps--like the tops of carrots, potato peels, avocado skins and eggshells--are ideal, and work best when chopped in small pieces. Do not include any type of meat, seafood, oils, or dairy items. Oil turns rancid quickly and makes the compost stink. The types of bacteria necessary to degrade meat and dairy products are different than bacteria needed to decompose items that can be composted, and can cause flies or maggots to spawn. You may include citrus peels and coffee grounds, but use sparingly, as these items have a high acidity content and when added in high volume, can be unpleasant for worms.

Outdoor Composting

There are many methods of outdoor composting, including trenches, piles or enclosed bins, but like indoor composting, meat and dairy products--including cheese--should never be included. Outdoor compost piles are more susceptible to insects, rodents and other wildlife than indoor composting. Regardless of the type of compost situation, dairy products require different organisms to decompose. Adding cheese and dairy to outdoor compost are not recommended, except for gardeners who are experienced in composting.

Industrial Composting: Municipal Curbside Pickup

Many cities pick up compostable materials at the curb, like regular garbage or recycling

Many cities and counties have begun curbside composting for households as a way to reduce municipal waste. Unlike small-scale composting operations, cities can sometimes take items that are otherwise not suitable. For example, some municipalities accept take out containers that can be composted: soiled pizza boxes, paper towels, and food scraps that include meat, oil, dairy and other animal products. Check with your solid waste management company to see what is accepted. If your area does accept dairy in curbside compost, make sure your bin is securely closed, because it can attract flies, raccoons and opossums.

Cheese or No Cheese: Difference of Opinion?

According to the Rodale Institute, only "traces," of "meat, fat or vegetable oils" are acceptable and are not recommended in large quantities. Mary Appelhof, environmental educator and author of the book, "Worms Eat Our Garbage," notes that many communities do not recommend using meat and dairy in compost heaps due to odor and pest problems. But she adds that worms are omnivores and will eat both meat and plants. San Francisco officials passed a mandatory composting law in October 2009 to meet waste reduction goals set by the board of supervisors. San Francisco is one of the many U.S. cities that accepts meat and dairy items in its curbside composting bins.

References

• "Worms Eat Our Garbage;" Mary Appelhof, Mary Frances Fenton, Barbara Loss Harris; 1993
• "The Rodale Book of Composting;" Debaorah L. Martin and Grace Gershuny, Editors; 1992

Resources

• United States Department of Agriculture, Alternative Farming Systems Information Center
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; Wastes- Resource Conservation