All organic matter eventually decomposes. However, composting deliberately accelerates the decomposition process, resulting in a dark, earthy material used by gardeners to amend soil or as a mulch. Composting requires carbon and nitrogen sources, many of which can be found at home, but not all organic materials are suitable for composting.
Composting Dairy Products
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, dairy products, including eggs, yogurt, sour cream, butter and milk, should not be composted. Although sour milk and other dairy products will eventually decompose, the odor of decomposing dairy can create an unpleasant smell in a compost pile or bin and can also attract rodents or other pests. An empty milk carton can be composted if it is made of paper rather than plastic or glass.
Other Unsuitable Composting Materials
Meat and fish and their bones should be avoided in composting, because, as is the case with dairy, they can attract animals and create an unpleasant odor as they decompose. This is also true for oils, fats, grease and lard. Pet waste should also not be added to compost as it may carry harmful diseases and viruses. Paper should be composted with caution, and you should take care that no toxic ink is present. Coal and charcoal ash can be harmful to plants, as can the leaves or twigs from black walnut trees. Plants that are diseased or infested with insects should not be composted, nor should grass that spreads by rhizomes, such as Bermuda grass, as it could unintentionally be added to a garden.
Ideal Composting Materials
Successful composting requires carbon and nitrogen sources. Carbon sources, also called browns, include dried plants, as well as their leaves and stems. Straw is an acceptable carbon source. While autumn leaves can also be composted, they should be shredded first to prevent them from matting together and obstructing the airflow through the compost pile. Wood shavings and sawdust can also be used as a carbon source, although they decompose more slowly than plants. Nitrogen sources, also called greens, include nearly all wilting or fresh plants as long as they are disease-free. Scraps of vegetables and fruit, egg shells, coffee grounds and tea bags are good sources of nitrogen. Manure from horses, cows and poultry is also a good source of nitrogen, although it is important that it come from an animal free of disease.
Benefits of Composting
A primary benefit of compost is that it improves soil structure. Heavy clay soil can benefit from the addition of compost as it can improve the soil's drainage, and compost can also absorb enough water to increase the water-holding capacity of sandy soil. Compost is also used to remediate contaminated soil. Higher crop yields, a decreased need for chemical fertilizer and the reduction of plant disease and pests have also been noted from using compost. The environment benefits from composting through the diversion of organic waste from landfills. The Environmental Protection Agency reports that 26 percent of the municipal solid waste stream in the United States is made up of yard trimmings and food waste, at least some of which is suitable for composting.
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