Waste That Should Never Make Its Way Into Your Compost
If you're concerned about the amount of waste that you and your family generate each week, buying and using a compost bin can greatly cut down on what you take to the curb on garbage day. Biodegradable products – namely, fruit and vegetable peelings and a whole host of other waste from your kitchen – can instead find a home in your compost. Over time, the contents of the compost will break down until they can be added to your gardens to boost the nutrients of the soil. However, not every biodegradable product should necessarily go into your compost; some things should be put out with your trash, while others can be disposed of in different ways. Here are four things that should be deal with in a different manner.
Meat Bones
While it can be tempting to scrape any food left on your plate at the end of the meal into your compost bin, meat bones aren't going to do any favors to your compost. Bones will not break down at the same pace as the other organic matter in the bin, which means that whey you wish to spread the compost on your garden, you'll end up picking out the bones. Additionally, the smell of meat might attract some unwanted animals from your neighborhood. Always dispose of your meat bones in the garbage.
Weeds
When you've had a busy day of weeding your garden or lawn, you'll often end up with a big pile of weeds – don't make the mistake of putting them in your compost. It won't be long before you notice that the resilient weeds are continuing to grow, and you'll now face the labor-intensive task of weeding your compost. Additionally, weeds are the last thing you want in your compost if you plan to spread it on your garden. Dispose of your weeds by taking them to your local yard waste depot.
Rice
Rice might seem relatively innocuous to add to your compost heap, but it's not an ideal type of food waste to include. Rice can lead to bacteria growth in the compost, which isn't a problem you want to deal with if you'll be using the compost on your vegetable garden. Additionally, rice that has come into contact with meat products – either on your plate or during the cooking process – can easily attract pests. Like bones, rice should be put in your household garbage.
Shredded Paper
It's easy to think that shredded paper will quickly break down in your compost, but even in this small, fine form, paper does not break down quickly. Additionally, paper has chemicals that you won't want in your veggie garden. It's best to check with your local recycling provider and confirm that bags of shredded paper are acceptable in your recycling bin.
For trash removal, contact a company such as Sullivan Refuse Inc.