What Is Usable in a Compost Bin?
A compost bin turns decomposing food scraps and yard waste into rich garden soil. However, adding the wrong ingredients can cause foul odors and attract unwanted pests. Use the right ingredients, along with water and oxygen, and your garden will thank you. Does this Spark an idea?
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Kitchen Scraps
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Fruit leftovers ready to compost. Fruit and vegetable scraps, such as vegetable peels, orange rinds, onion skins and apple cores compost well. Other kitchen scraps to throw into the bin include tea bags, coffee grounds and filters, egg shells, stale bread, old flour and used paper napkins.
Manure
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Plant eaters, such as this cow, produce usable manure. Manure can be a valuable nitrogen source for the compost bin. However, only use manure from plant-eating animals, such as cows, sheep, goats, horses, chickens and rabbits.
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Yard and Garden Waste
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These dead leaves add carbon to your compost. Nitrogen-rich materials from the yard include grass clippings, shredded prunings and hedge trimmings, and weeds that have not gone to seed. Carbon-rich yard waste includes fall leaves, dead plants, straw and pine needles.
Miscellaneous Compost Builders
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When done reading this paper, shred and compost it. Other household materials that can be added to the compost bin include shredded newspaper and plain white office paper, wood ashes, plant-based packing materials, old potting soil, sawdust and feathers.
What Not to Use
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Fish makes a tasty dinner, but does not belong in the compost. Do not add any grease, meat, fish or dairy products, as these will smell and attract rodents. Avoid diseased or pesticide-treated plants, invasive plants and weed seeds. Keep out dog or cat feces or litter, as well as barbecue charcoal.
Keeping a Balance
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One variety of compost bin. Try to balance green, nitrogen-rich materials such as vegetables, grass and manure with carbon-rich materials, including dead leaves, straw and shredded newspaper for healthy compost. Keep the compost moist and turn it to add oxygen.
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References
Resources
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