When it comes to composting, not everyone is on the same page. There is a ton of great content on the internet about composting, but sometimes that content is conflicting. Want to start composting but not certain how to separate fact from fiction? Here's our experience with eight composting myths we regularly hear:
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Composting is smelly - it should not be. If there is an odor emanating from your compost bin, that usually means something is in there that shouldn't be. Compost piles should smell 'earthy', much like dirt. Fresh manure, animal feces, meat and dairy products are the usual culprits and should not be placed in your compost pile or bin, as among other things, they will create odors and attract any number of pests.
Composting attracts pests - what do we define as pests? Raccoons, rats and mice are the first ones that come to mind. Bears are not much of a problem in my area, but they can be in certain parts of the country. There are also stray dogs and cats. Don't compost meat, bones, oil and dairy products to avoid attracting these animals. Using an enclosed compost bin can help also.
Composting is a lot of work - as opposed to doing NOTHING, composting entails a little more effort. Our efforts equal weekly trips to the bin to add food scraps from our kitchen compost bin, adding 'brown' material such as dried leaves, possibly adding some water for moisture or turning bin contents to aerate. Harvesting good compost when we need it is simply a matter of sifting it out of our bin. Compared to the tradeoff of finding, paying for and applying good compost, it is a little more time, a lot less expensive and a lot more satisfying. Plus, we know where our compost came from and what's in it!
Composting is messy - everyone seems to have a different definition of messy. My husband and I are polar opposites on this. A compost bin works wonders to keep your compost contained and everyone happy. You can either make one yourself, or purchase an enclosed compost bin which has the added benefit of speeding the composting process. Many compost bins on the market look quite nice and facilitate removal of finished compost as an added convenience.
You can't compost meat, oil and dairy products - well.....actually you can, but this should not be done with your normal compost bin. Why? Because of the aforementioned reasons like smell and attracting pests. But bokashi composting, which is gaining in popularity in the US, changes the composition of these foods allowing them to be safely composted within a few weeks. We'll save comments about bokashi composting for a later post. We're excited about it, but still experimenting with this form of composting!
You shouldn't compost paper - actually newspaper, cardboard, toilet paper rolls and unbleached paper towels have long been regarded as great sources of nitrogen for your compost bin. The paper is primarily made from plants and according to Earth911.com, the composting process will degrade any hydrocarbons in the ink.
Composting doesn't make much of a difference in helping the environment - um, yes it does. According to the EPA, food waste was actually the largest single component of solid waste reaching our landfills in 2010. That food waste generates methane, a gas that contributes to global warming. Composting food scraps can not only reduce our solid waste, but enrich your soil with vital nutrients, improving its texture and ability to hold water - very beneficial for gardens, landscape and potted plants.
There you go - our list of the top eight myths about composting! Have any myths you'd like to share?
