Composting 101 - What NOT to put into a compost bin.

Composting 101 - What NOT to put into a compost bin.

A double sided brochure sponsored by the University of Minnesota teaches in a nutshell about why to compost - because 30% of organic waste is cluttering our landfills. Because landfills are cluttered with other non compostable products, the organic waste gets trapped and does not compost but often turns into methane gases. The same organics in a compost system can turn into fresh, rich amendment to garden and soil in your yard, save landfill space, eliminate some of the methane gas pollution in the landfill.

It is easier than you think to start composting. The brochure also talks about what NOT to put into a compost system. The most common No-No's are - Do NOT compost

• Coal & coke ash
• Cooked food
• Meat
• Fish
• Cat litter
• Dog faeces
• Disposable nappies (diapers)
• tobacco

Some would say they can be composted in a careful and premeditated way, as a rule though you will have fewer insect and pest problems in your bins by eliminating these items.

In addition Peony leaves should be put into the trash rather than composted. They harbor fungai diseases that can infect other plants when the compost is ultimately spread. Other NO-NO's would be poison ivy, sumac, oak, oleanders, and anything, including tomatoes and peach tree curl leaves that have diseases or insects that may not be killed while composting. . Some would also say you can compost those as well, but for my money, why take a chance.

For the complete Q&A and composting 101 brochure including how to successfully start composting and what NOT to do, click http://blog.lib.umn.edu/mgweb/sherburne/composting_broch.pdfn

How to build a compost bin for $100 or less...It's easier than you think. For specific instructions Reproduced by permission of the Seattle Engineering Department's Solid Waste Utility and the Seattle Tilth Association, Seattle, WA. Click on this link

http://www4.uwm.edu//shwec/publications/cabinet/factsheets/WoodandWireCompostBin.pdf