Menu Close

Can you compost meat and dairy?

Can you compost meat and dairy?

Although you can compost any organic material, you should not put animal products, including meat, bones, dairy and eggshells, into your compost bins. This is not because they will not decompose and compost, but because of safety issues with these materials. Meat can also attract animals to your compost pile or bin.

Why is dairy bad for compost?

Eggs and dairy products such as cheese, butter and yogurt, which also attract pests. Oils, grease, salad dressing and peanut butter. These items don’t break down easily and could upset the liquid balance of your compost. They can regrow in your compost pile and be transferred back into your garden.

Can you put cottage cheese in compost?

Don’t Compost Dairy products, such as cheese, butter, cottage cheese, yogurt, cream cheese, sour cream, etc.

Can you put butter in compost?

ANSWER: Butter is a form of fat, and things like fats and grease should not be composted in general. (Neither should meat, fish, or dairy products. These items will stink up your composting area and also draw in pest animals.

Why are dairy products not good for composting?

By Rogue Parrish Virtually all the official sources of information on how to compost at home tell you not to add dairy products such as milk, butter, cheese, ice cream or yogurt to a compost pile. The concern is that the dairy products rapidly decompose and emit odors that bring vermin scurrying to tear up your compost pile.

How big of a compost bin do I need for dairy products?

If you want to add dairy products to your compost bin try to follow these recommendations: Bigger compost bins are better at composting animal food waste. Your compost bin needs to be at least 1 yard square (or 1 square meter).

Can You compost milk in a compost pile?

Limit the dairy products to a small percentage of the pile’s ingredients, advises Barbara Pleasant and Deborah Martin in “The Complete Compost Gardening Guide.”. If space permits, keep a regular, conservatively managed compost pile and a “try it” pile to see what happens when you compost milk, cheese and similar items.

What foods should you not put in a compost bin?

Dairy – Dairy, such as milk, butter and cheese, will break down, so it is not an absolute no-no for compost bins. However, the problem with dairy is that it will attract rodents, raccoons and other unwanted critters into your yard. It can also make your compost pile smell, so it is bet to avoid it. 3.