can i compost this | Crazy About Compost

“Can I Compost This?” Series #5: Hair

Can I compost hair? Cat hair? Dog hair? My hair? Yes, of course. However, the same rule applies to hair as most things... add in moderation, and the smaller the pieces, the better. Hair takes quite some time to break down, but is absolutely compost-worthy. In fact, between 6 and 7 pounds of hair contain as much nitrogen as 100-200 lbs of manure, according to the Rodale Book of Composting. Hair is one of those items that likes to clump up...think leaves. Give your pile plenty of air and as much rotation/turning as you can to speed up decay. You may remember when I asked the question if hair salons were doing their part... check out the Oasis Hair Salon in Santa Cruz, CA: http://www.oasishairandskin.com/

“Can I Compost This?” Series #4: Tea Bags?

Lately I've been having a lot of fun with contacting companies that I like (and don't like) and asking them how compostable their product is. The results have usually been pretty entertaining. I don't drink a lot of tea, but when I do, it's ginger Yogi Tea. They definitely carry a good rep, and they didn't disappoint here. I sent them an email asking about their tea bags... What are they made of? Are they compostable? It appears that tea bags normally are, but as of late have been moving over to nylon bags due to higher strength...not compostable. In fact, I wonder if I really want to be dipping nylon in near-boiling water. While heating and burning aren't the same thing, burning nylon is definitely toxic. Not trying to…

“Can I Compost This?” Series #3: Potatoes

Can I compost potatoes? Yep. I wouldn't advise throwing a whole potato in the compost heap...unless you'd like to grow potatoes in the compost. Is it such a big deal, anyway? However, to get the most effective pile going, the potato should be chopped up into little pieces anyway, as with anything else you are putting in there. A well-managed compost pile should have no problem taking care of potatoes, skin and all. Woohoo!