Worm composting, or vermicomposting, is an excellent way to recycle organic waste and create nutrient-rich compost for your garden. However, not all organic matter is suitable for your worm bin. Certain items can harm the worms, disrupt the composting process, or produce unpleasant odors. Understanding what not to put in a worm bin is crucial for maintaining a healthy and efficient composting system.
Do not put citrus fruits, dairy products, greasy foods and non-biodegradable materials in a worm bin. Worms have a difficult time digesting and composting these items and might produce a foul odor.
Dairy Products
Avoid adding dairy items like milk, cheese, or yogurt to the worm bin. They tend to putrefy quickly, causing foul odors and attracting pests. Worms are not equipped to digest dairy efficiently, leading to the risk of mold growth and unhealthy conditions for the worms.
Dairy products, when decomposing, tend to produce strong odors and can make the compost pile or worm bin smell unpleasant. Additionally, dairy can be acidic, which can disrupt the pH balance in the worm bin and harm the worms.
Dairy products contain high levels of fats, which are difficult for worms to digest. The fats can become rancid in the composting process, leading to anaerobic conditions and the growth of harmful bacteria.
The strong smell of decomposing dairy can attract pests, including flies, maggots, or rodents, to your composting system.
Citrus Fruits
Citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes contain high levels of acidity. Worms have sensitive skin, and the acidic nature of citrus can harm them. It can also disrupt the pH balance within the bin, making the environment less hospitable for the worms.
Composting worms are generally able to eat citrus fruits, but in large quantities, citrus fruits can be too acidic for them. This may cause their bedding and surrounding environment to become too acidic as well, interfering with the decomposition process.
Additionally, composting worms may eat citrus peels more slowly compared to other organic matter. It is recommended to limit the amount of citrus fruits being fed to worms or consider pre-processing them by removing the peels or blending them into smaller pieces for easier digestion.
Onions and Garlic
These pungent vegetables can not only repel worms due to their strong odors but can also affect the balance of the bin. They contain sulfur compounds that can be harmful in large quantities and might even inhibit the composting process.
Garlic and onion have pungent smells, and these odors can pass to the worm castings or worm bin. As worms break down the organic matter, these smells can be noticeable and may linger in your compost.
Garlic and onion have natural compounds that act as repellents or deterrents against certain pests or organisms. Some studies suggest that the compounds in garlic and onion can have negative effects on the growth and reproduction of worms. Consequently, worms may avoid consuming large quantities of these materials.
Related. How Compost Bins Work
Fish and Meat
Proteins in meat and fish take longer to break down and can emit unpleasant odors as they decompose. Additionally, they attract flies and other unwanted pests. Bones, being slow to decompose, can also cause issues and may attract larger scavengers.
Meat and fish take longer to break down compared to other organic matter. They can be challenging for worms to process and may not decompose at the same rate as other materials in your compost. This can cause the accumulation of undigested waste, potentially leading to unhealthy conditions for the worms.
Oily or Fatty Foods
Foods high in oil or grease, like fried items or fatty foods, should be kept out of the worm bin. They can go rancid, creating an inhospitable environment and attracting unwanted pests. Worms have difficulty breaking down oily substances, leading to potential problems in the compost.
Greasy or oily foods tend to clump together, forming a dense mass that lacks sufficient air pockets. This can restrict the flow of oxygen within the worm bin or compost pile, leading to anaerobic conditions. When worms are deprived of oxygen, they may struggle to survive or even die.
Pet Waste
Pet waste can contain harmful pathogens, parasites, or bacteria that could pose health risks to both humans and worms. It is crucial to only use pet waste from healthy animals and avoid using waste from animals that have been recently treated with medications or have known health issues.
Composting pet waste depends on creating the right conditions to kill potential pathogens and break down the waste effectively. This involves maintaining the compost pile or worm bin at proper temperatures (around 140-160°F or 60-71°C) for an extended period. However, these high temperatures may not be achievable in a typical backyard worm composting system.
Non-Biodegradable Materials
Composting worms, such as red wigglers or tiger worms, are not capable of consuming or breaking down synthetic or non-biodegradable materials. These materials do not have organic components that worms can digest, so they will remain intact within the worm’s digestive system.
If composting worms accidentally consume synthetic or non-biodegradable materials, such as plastic or metal, they will likely pass through the worms unchanged and be excreted along with the worm castings.
Infected Plants
Some plant diseases can be transmitted through the consumption of diseased plant material. Composting worms typically do not have strong immune systems, so there is a risk of pathogens or diseases spreading within the worm bin or compost pile. It’s crucial to be cautious and avoid composting highly infected or diseased plants, especially if the disease is known to be easily transmissible.
: Composting worms thrive in a specific temperature range, generally between 55-77°F (13-25°C). Certain diseases are known to survive or even thrive in composting conditions. To eliminate or reduce the risk of disease transmission, it’s important to ensure that the compost pile or worm bin reaches higher temperatures (above 131°F or 55°C) for an extended period during hot composting.
This thermophilic stage can help kill pathogens and diseases present in the plant material.
Why Avoid These Items?
Adding unsuitable materials to a worm bin can lead to several problems:
Harm to Worms: Certain foods or substances can harm the worms directly, causing stress, skin irritation, or even death.
Unpleasant Odors: Some items decompose in a way that releases foul-smelling gases, making the composting area unpleasant.
Pest Attraction: Certain food items or waste can attract pests like flies, rodents, or insects, disrupting the composting process and potentially spreading diseases.
Imbalanced Composting: The wrong materials can upset the balance of the bin, affecting decomposition rates and the quality of the resulting compost.
Conclusion
By understanding what not to put in a worm bin and why, you can maintain a healthy and efficient vermicomposting system. Stick to suitable organic materials and create an environment that’s ideal for your worms to thrive and produce nutrient-rich compost for your plants.
