Gardening experts have revealed five things you should never put in the compost bin after changing the way you dispose of garden waste, following new recycling guidelines.
Did you just learn? How to make compost Or if you’ve been a composting professional for years, it’s always helpful to have a little refresher on it Things you should never put in the compost bin.
When the Simple rules of recycling It means that there have been some changes What can you put in the garden waste bin?Fertilizer rules remain the same. Here’s what should never go in the compost bin, according to experts.
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1. Weed
First of all, you should avoid putting weed In your compost bin. Enlarge this instead The weed bugYou should instead dispose of weeds by taking them to your local recycling centre, where you can dispose of garden waste.
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Horticulturist and commercial director Richard Barker says, ‘Weeds that produce seeds actively try to spread throughout your garden and when they are placed in the compost bin, they start to sprout again. LBS Horticulture.
‘If fertilizer containing weed seeds is used in your garden, you can spread weeds around your garden where they will compete with plants for resources.’
‘To properly compost the weeds and make sure they don’t spread, you need very high temperatures, and it’s unlikely that a compost pile in the garden will reach a high enough temperature.’
2. Food waste
Most of the food waste – dairy products, cooked food, cooking oil and grease and fish scraps and meat – is. not Perfect for your compost bin. While you will still need to investigate What can you put in a food bin?Remember that you definitely cannot put these items in the compost bin.
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‘Cooked scraps are best kept out of the compost bin, even if they seem harmful,’ says Lucas HargreavesAt Recycling and Waste Specialist Recycling Lives Services.
‘Many cooked foods may contain fats, oils, sauces or salts, which can interfere with the composting process and attract pests. Food scraps are better suited to the council’s food waste collection where available – it’s a good idea to check this in advance.’
‘Milk, cheese, curds and cream – surprisingly to many people – are unsustainable for home composting as they spoil very quickly, creating unpleasant odours. Dairy waste also upsets the balance of compost piles by creating overly wet conditions that reduce aeration and slow decomposition.’
3. Walnut
I can honestly say that I have never stopped to consider whether or not you can compost walnuts. And while it would be easy to assume you can, Richard warns that certain nuts are a big fertilizer, no-no.
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Certain nuts, including walnuts, contain juglone, which can be toxic to many plants. If this chemical mixes with your compost after the nuts are cracked, it can harm the plant,’ he says.
4. Teabags containing plastic
It is a popular gardening hack Use teabags in the garden Because they are great for both weed control and providing natural fertilizer. However, you should avoid putting them in the compost bin – especially if the teabag contains plastic.
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‘Many tea bags contain polypropylene fibers which can help seal the bag together. Unless the packaging specifically says that the tea bags are plastic-free or home compostable, they can leave microplastics in the compost,’ says Lucas.
5. Treated grass clippings
‘If you have treated yourself lawn Along with herbicides or chemical fertilizers, you should not add clippings to your compost bin. This is because these chemicals will still be present in the resulting compost and can kill any plants it is used on,’ says Richard.
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Instead, you should take treated grass clippings to your local waste center, where you can dispose of garden waste. While grass clippings can be a little tricky to transport, I recommend purchasing a garden bag (like this one Lakeland Pop Up Garden Bin 96L, £7.49to transport them.
If you want to keep your garden happy and healthy, you should always avoid adding these common items to your compost bin.
