Composting is one of the greenest ways to reduce waste at home while contributing to healthy soil. Proper composting of organic waste also produces highly nutritious fertilizer that helps your plants grow strong and healthy.
However, not all organic waste is suitable for composting – some products can not only not create benefits, but also destroy future fertilizers. Some people, without sufficient knowledge, throw the wrong materials into the compost pile, which can contaminate the entire process.
It is important to know what can be composted and what waste should be avoided. Careless mixing of the wrong products can contaminate your compost with pathogens or chemicals that will harm not only your compost, but your plants as well. That’s why it’s important to understand the rules of composting and best control what goes into your compost pile to get the most out of your soil.
What can’t be put in the compost bin?
Before each time you throw this waste into the composting facility, think about whether it really should go there. Pay particular attention to animal products such as bones, gristle, offal and fat. As they break down, harmful microorganisms appear in the compost pile, which makes the fertilizer no longer ecological and ineffective. In addition, their smell makes them a tasty morsel for pests such as rats, which are very difficult to eradicate later. It is also advisable not to throw eggs, which are also a product of animal origin, into the compost pile, but you can safely throw eggshells. Because they contain many vitamins and minerals that will strengthen your plants.
What fruits and vegetables can’t be put in the compost bin?
The best compost ingredients are vegetable and fruit peels, but unfortunately not all. Remember that vegetables that have been cooked with meat as part of the broth should not be thrown away. It is also worth knowing that citrus peels are also not suitable for composting. Very often in fruit sorting companies, especially exotic fruits, citrus fruits are sprayed or soaked in a liquid that penetrates the peel and creates toxic compounds. Therefore, when citrus peels are thrown into the compost, all these toxic substances begin to be released from the peels and destroy the fertilizer.
Throw weeds and tree leaves into the compost
Weeds are an excellent component of compost. They contain minerals that are necessary and beneficial for proper plant growth. It’s best to throw nettles or nettles into your compost bin, but only if they don’t have seeds on them. Therefore, dry the weeds in the sun before throwing them in the compost pile.
From tree leaves, never throw walnut leaves into the compost bin. The juglone they secrete inhibits the growth of many plants, such as tomatoes, potatoes, cucumbers and others. Juglone also slows or even prevents the germination of some seeds.
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