13 Everyday Foods You Should Avoid Composting (It’s Ruining Your Soil!)

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Everyone wants to have a lush, vibrant garden that gets people asking for gardening tips. Of course, one of the best ways to get rich, nutrient rich soil is composting, but as with most things, there are dos and don’ts. It seems efficient to toss every kitchen scrap into your compost bin, but not all foods do more good than harm.

Below is a guide on what may be sitting in your compost pile right now, and without you knowing, destroying all your hard work. If you’ve been seeing wilting plants or funky smells, one of these foods could be the problem. To learn more about which everyday foods might be sabotaging your compost and how to avoid them, read on.

Meat Scraps

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Meat might seem like a good thing to add to the compost to break down, but it’s a dead giveaway to pests. Meat scraps are like dinner bell for critters from raccoons to flies. The fats and oils that remain even after they break down can make your compost smell unpleasant and introduce harmful bacteria. To avoid turning your compost heap into an all you can eat buffet for the local wildlife, it’s best to keep any meat products out.

Dairy Products

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Milk, yogurt, and cheese are super popular in the kitchen but not so much in the compost. It can really overpower your nose and it can slow down your composting process. Worst of all, it draws pests like rodents and flies like meat does. If you leave dairy products out of the mix, you’ll have fewer unwelcome visitors and a sweeter smelling compost.

Oily and Greasy Foods

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Oil and grease don’t break down easily, so they can clog up your compost pile and become a slimy, sticky mess. They can also attract pests and they can choke the airflow in your compost, slowing the rate at which it decomposes. Don’t toss in your salad dressings, fried foods or anything that’s been soaked in oil as they leave a residue that sticks around in your soil.

Citrus Peels

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Citrus fruits, such as oranges, lemons, and grapefruits, can work to lower the pH of your compost, making it too acidic. And that acidity can disrupt the composting process and discourage beneficial microorganisms. It has the added ‘benefit’ of a strong citrus aroma, which can be off-putting to earthworms, which are so crucial to aerating and improving the soil.

Onions and Garlic

Onions and garlic are great for adding flavor to your meals, but they can be just as devastating for your compost. Natural compounds in these aromatic alliums can inhibit the growth of beneficial bacteria and fungi. This can also cause them to have an over powering smell, which might scare off helpful critters like worms from moving in and doing their job.

Cooked Food

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In general, cooked food should not be put into the compost bin. Once food is cooked, it has oils, fats and seasonings that don’t break down as easily as raw scraps. Even seemingly harmless items like cooked vegetables can attract pests and bring unwanted moisture to your compost pile slowing down decomposition.

Bread and Pasta

Molds and pests love bread, pasta and other processed carbs. These starchy foods break down quickly and can make your compost pile too moist, which will provide a breeding ground for unwanted bacteria and fungi. Save the carbs for your plate, not the compost pile; it’s like laying out a welcome mat for all sorts of pests.

Bones

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According to GreenWashing Index, bones are hard, dense material that takes a long time to break down, and most home compost bins can’t handle those. As they begin to decompose, they can also attract pests and give off an unpleasant odor. Or if you’re committed to recycling your bones, grind them down into bone meal, and leave them out of your compost bin.

Pet Waste

Composting waste from pets like cats and dogs sounds like a great idea, but the droppings can introduce harmful pathogens into your compost. A better option if you don’t have a pet specific composting system is to leave it out. If you’re growing edible plants, these pathogens can transfer to your garden.

Walnuts

According to ScienceDirect, Juglone, a compound found in walnuts, is toxic to many plants. This toxin stays active in your compost for quite some time, and can cause harm to anything that attempts to grow in soil made with walnut residue. It’s tempting to toss those leftover walnut shells in, but they’re better tossed in the trash.

Eggshells (Unless Crushed)

Eggshells can be composted, but unless you crush them up into tiny pieces they will never decompose. Bugs can eat through eggshells in your yard, leaving large chunks of the casing in the soil — and unfortunately, a un-even texture. If you crush them into a fine powder they’ll blend in better with the compost.

Peanut Butter

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Oils and fats in peanut butter will make for a sticky situation in your compost bin. Its thick, greasy texture doesn’t break down well, and can coat other items, slowing down the composting process. To avoid heavy oils or peanut butter, don’t add them to your compost.

Processed Foods

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Preservatives, artificial flavors and colors found in processed foods disrupt the natural decomposition process. They’re usually loaded with sugars and oils, which attract pests and can lead to a sticky, sluggish pile of compost. Keep your compost healthy and thriving by sticking to fresh produce scraps and avoiding anything processed.

Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.