Inefficient composting processes can result in anaerobic (rather than aerobic) conditions which produces methane and nitrous oxide. Incomplete processing can allow pathogens and weed seeds to survive. Poor process control can lead to the risk of nuisance odours and complaints.
Dairy, Oils, and Fats
Dairy products like milk, sour cream, yogurt, cheese, and butter should not be composted because they also attract pests. The same goes for oils and fats. Processed foods that contain a lot of dairy or fat should also be left out.
Compost can be a breeding ground for dangerous pathogens, some of which have killed or seriously harmed unsuspecting gardeners. Inspectors should familiarize themselves with these illnesses, some of which can be contracted in other parts of the house.
If a compost pile is anaerobic, there are more serious consequences than the stench. When a pile doesn't have oxygen, it emits methane, a harmful greenhouse gas, according to the United States Composting Council. This is one of the reasons why landfills harm the environment.
Improves the structure and health of your soil by adding organic matter. Helps the soil retain moisture and nutrients. Attracts beneficial organisms to the soil and reduces the need for pesticides and fertilizers. Reduces the potential for soil erosion.
Compost retains a large volume of water, thus helping to prevent/reduce erosion, reduce runoff, and establish vegetation. Compost improves downstream water quality by retaining pollutants such as heavy metals, nitrogen, phosphorus, oil and grease, fuels, herbicides, and pesticides.
Composting food waste not only reduces pressures on landfills, but also reduces the amount of methane, a greenhouse gas 34 times stronger than CO2, that is released during decomposition. The financial impact of food waste is considerable, as is the ecological impact.
Composting is a safe and natural way to reduce landfill waste and help crops and plants grow. It may benefit the health of soil and food by increasing the nutrient content. Composting may also help people use fewer chemical pesticides and fertilizers, which could have positive health effects.
A disadvantage of composting is that some of the ammonia-nitrogen will be lost as a gas. Alone, compost may not adequately supply sufficient nutrients—particularly nitrogen during rapid growth phases of crops with high nutrient demands (e.g., watermelon, tomato, and pepper at fruiting) (Tyson and Cabrera, 1993).
hazards are also likely to be a concern. Allergic (or asthma like) respiratory disease such as Farmer's Lung disease, Mushroom Worker's Lung disease, allergic rhinitis and occupational asthma can occur following excessive exposure. Sewage enteric pathogens may lead to enteric infection.
It's simple, says Linda Norris Waldt, advocacy and chapter relations director for the U.S. Composting Council. “The biggest barrier is that there are not enough compost facilities to process all of the [organic] material” that households generate.
Compost – Promotes Healthier Plant Growth. Compost is most well-known for its contribution to healthy and resilient plant growth. It has a number of complementary benefits to plant growth, among them that it balances soil density, adds and retains nutrients, and discourages disease, pests and weeds.
Composting Don'ts
Don't add fish, meat, dairy products, bones, baked goods, fatty foods or grease to your compost pile. These food scraps do not easily decompose and may attract animals. Don't use diseased plants or plants that are toxic to other plants.
“Putting your food waste in the compost bin can really help reduce methane emissions from landfills, so it's an easy thing to do that can have a big impact,” Brown said. In the U.S., about 95 percent of food scraps are still thrown away and eventually end up in landfills.
Going out to the bin or pile can be a way to teach the value of hard work and the food chain, and it can also help build physical strength as you turn the compost with a shovel or rake. It increases the health of your plants and reduces food waste.
Much of the carbon in a compost pile is given off in the form of carbon dioxide (CO2), one of the major by-products of composting.
It's Often Unpleasant, With a Low Nutrient Profile
For instance, at the process of degradation, the rotting smell of the organic ingredients can be very unpleasant. Furthermore, the nutrients in organic wastes often have complexes in structure and the nutrient level is often very low.
Drawbacks of composting by-products are cost for site preparation and equipment, the lengthy treatment period, targeting final use of compost product, and environmental issues such as odors and dust.
In addition, composting lowers greenhouse gases by improving carbon sequestration in the soil and by preventing methane emissions through aerobic decomposition, as methane-producing microbes are not active in the presence of oxygen.