Top 8 things you should not put in your compost bin or heap

Compost heaps come in many forms from compost bins to tumblers to just simple mounds of organic matter.  Although it’s easy to assume anything organic can go in your compost pile be warned listed here are 8 things you should really avoid putting in the compost bin.

Citrus Peels

The peels of Orange and Lemon being citrus are very acidic, the acidity within them can kill worms and microorganisms which are beneficial to your compost bin. The peelings of orange and lemon generally take a very long time to decompose so best to leave them out of your compost.

Dog & Cat Poop

Dog and cat poop along with any other meat eating mammal should be kept out of your compost making program. Unpleasant parasites, pathogens and bacteria live inside these faeces and are best kept out. Rabbit, chicken, horse and cow manure on the other hand is a great addition to your compost heap. 

Fish & Meat

Although they are effectively organic and will rot down and provide nutrients the smell of rotting meat will not be pleasant and will encourage potentially dangerous bacteria to your garden. Composting fish and meat will also attract rats and all types of vermin you would rather keep at distance from your garden.

Glossy Paper

Although normal paper and cardboard are compostable glossy and laminated papers and card should not enter the compost bin. They carry toxins and chemicals that could be harmful to soil life and would take a very long time to break down in any case.

Sticky labels

Sticky labels on fruit and vegetables are not biodegradable and can contain toxins, they are easy to miss when adding matter to your compost and are one of the most common modern contaminants in compost making.

Coal Ash

Coal and charcoal ash contains high levels of sulphur which can turn your compost acidic. Not only can this disturb the PH of your compost, combustible chemicals are added to Coal and Charcoal meaning they are best left out of your compost bin. Wood ash is acceptable inside the compost heap.

Synthetic Fertiliser

Synthetic fertilisers should not be added to your compost they contain certain elements which are hard to break down naturally such as heavy metals and inorganic compounds. Anything derived from fossil fuels should never enter an organic compost heap. 

Treated Wood Sawdust

There is nothing wrong with adding organic log shavings or sawdust to your compost pile but treated timber has trace elements of preservatives, varnishes, paints and stains which are made from chemical compounds that should not be added to your compost pile. Always check as best you can that any wood dust or chips added to your compost are from a completely organic source.