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There’s a lot of mixed wisdom out there about what organic material you should and shouldn’t return to the earth. If you want to stay on Mother Nature’s good side, check out this list of things the Environmental Protection Agency suggests trashing instead of composting:
1. Sick plants: Adding diseased or insect-ridden plants to your compost will just make other plants ill. (But you can compost healthy plants.)
2. Coal or charcoal ash: These can also harm plant life. (But you can compost fireplace ashes.)
3. Black walnut tree leaves or twigs: While most leaves are okay to recycle, walnut leaves contain substances that can damage plants.
4. Dairy products: These will stink up your bin and attract outdoor pests. So dump your yogurt elsewhere, but toss eggshells into the compost pile.
5. Fats, grease, lard, or oils: As with dairy products, their odor can attract unwanted visitors. (And they don’t break down well.)
6. Pet wastes: Needless to say, your kitty’s litter likely contains parasites, bacteria, and other unsavory stuff that could make humans sick. (But cow or horse manure is fine for composting.)
7. Yard waste treated with pesticides: This could kill beneficial composting organisms. (But if you don’t use pesticides, your lawn debris is good to go…again.)
8. Meat or fish bones and scraps: More stinky stuff you don’t want to mess with outside – it’s like inviting a family of rodents and flies over for dinner.
9. Grains and carbs: They actually make great composting material, but vermin love them way too much. (Planet Green)
10. Chemically treated wood: Not good. (Planet Green)
photo: Thinkstock
