Can I Compost Meat?
by Beth Berry of Demand Media, originally posted here. Composting is a simple, easy, inexpensive and effective way to dispose of yard and kitchen waste. Suitable yard waste for composting includes grass, leaves, garden plants and wood chips. Beneficial kitchen scraps include fruit and vegetable scraps, coffee grinds and crushed egg shells. In general, composting meat, dairy and oily foods is not recommended (see References 3). However, this rule has some exceptions. Aerobic vs. Anaerobic Conditions Compost ingredients are broken down by microorganisms, which require aerobic conditions (the presence of oxygen) to thrive. Frequent turning of the pile with a shovel or pitchfork provides this necessary oxygen (see References 2). Meat, however, attracts microorganisms requiring anaerobic (the absence of oxygen) conditions for decomposition. The Trouble With Meat in Compost Piles…