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Know what kind of organic waste goes and doesn't go to the domestic composter

Knowing what to put in the compost bin is important to keep the earthworm humus-forming process at full steam! Food waste, leaves, sawdust and manure are usually organic waste that goes to the compost bin. What you cannot put in the composter are citrus fruits, feces from dogs and cats, garlic and onions, meat, black nuts, wheat, paper, rice, treated wood sawdust, charcoal and diseased plants. These materials compromise the degradation of organic matter inside the compost.

• Humus: what it is and what are its functions for the soil
• Earthworm: environmental importance in nature and at home

Garbage is a global problem and, with the gradual increase in population, it is necessary to find increasingly widespread solutions for it. Separating and recycling what is possible and reusing what we consume have become basic issues and are part of the best individual solution to reduce human impacts on the environment. Therefore, composting organic material is a great way to reduce the amount of waste we produce, after all, it is a natural process of decomposition that relies on the help of earthworms to transform leftover food into prime fertilizer. quality. For more details, access the article "What is composting and how to do it".

Anyone who uses compost at home needs to be aware of what it really is: a worm house that transforms natural waste into compost. Therefore, not everything that spoiled in the refrigerator or that was left over from the juice can be added to that environment.

There are several models of composters for sale on the internet or in specialized houses. But it is also possible to make your own composter. Find out how in the article: "Learn how to make a home composter with earthworms". From the moment you already have one of them, you should be aware of what you can and cannot put in the composter. Check out the list below that solves this question:

What CAN you put in the composter:

• Food leftovers: leftovers, stalks and peel of vegetables and fruits (except citrus fruits), eggshells, coffee grounds can be converted into excellent sources of nitrogen;
• Fresh waste: grass and leaf prunings have a high concentration of nitrogen;
• Sawdust and dry leaves: untreated sawdust, that is, without varnish and dry leaves help balance, are rich in carbon and prevent the appearance of unwanted animals and bad smells;
• Cooked or baked foods: can be used in small quantities. It is necessary to avoid excess salt and preservatives in processed foods. This type of material cannot be wet, so you should add a lot of saw dust on top of the remains;
• What are fresh, processed and ultra-processed foods
• toilet paper rolls
• coffee filters

Using 70% carbon rich waste and only 30% nitrogen rich we have a balanced formula. A good solution is to separate a space where fresh residues can dry before being used, generating good savings, because if there is no sawdust, dry residues are excellent substitutes. Another tip has to do with the coffee grounds. It is a great ally, as it inhibits the appearance of ants and is an excellent nutritional supplement for earthworms. The paper filter is also used for composting.

• Coffee grounds: 13 amazing uses

What you CANNOT put in composter:

• Citrus fruits: need extra care, both the pulp and the skins can change the PH of the earth, in the case of orange, pineapple, lemon, among others;
• Dog and cat feces: despite looking like natural fertilizers, these residues can contain parasites and viruses, which pose potential risks to earthworms and plants. However, there is another way to compost these residues, find out more in the article "How to compost dog feces";
• Dairy products: any dairy product does not enter. In addition to the bad smell of decomposition, it becomes very slow and such foods can attract unwanted organisms;
• Meat: chicken, fish and beef waste are very harmful to the composter. Decomposition takes time, causes a bad smell and attracts animals;
• Black walnuts: walnuts contain juglone, an organic compound that is toxic to some types of plants;
• Wheat derivatives: such as dough, cake, bread - includes dough, cake, bread and any other baked goods. These items have slow decomposition compared to the others and, too, still attract pests;
• Most types of paper: magazines, newspapers, printing papers, envelopes and catalogs are all treated with heavy chemicals, usually bleaches (which contain chlorine) and inks that are not biodegradable. Recycling is the solution;
• Rice: once cooked, it is a great place for bacteria but very bad for compost;
• Sawdust from treated wood: sawdust is good for composting because it helps to absorb moisture. However, if the sawdust comes from some type of varnished or chemically treated wood, the chemical components will harm the worms;
• Charcoal: has large amounts of sulfur and iron, which are bad for plants;
• Diseased plants: do not place plants with fungus or other disease as it can pass to healthy plants;
• Fats: Fatty foods can release substances that slow down composting and damage the compost;
• Garlic and onion: they decompose very slowly and have a bad smell. They end up slowing down the entire composting process;
• Peel and pulp of citrus fruits: due to the acidity of citrus fruits, the peels end up being responsible for unbalancing the pH of the soil mixture, harming the earthworms. If you don't know what to do with them, see the article "16 tips for reusing food".

Now that it is clear what cannot be put into the compost bin, what to do with this waste? Find out in the article "You're not going to the composter, now what?".

Interested in composting but don't know where to start? Check out the step by step how to make your composter in the article "How to make home compost: a step by step".