Composting Do's and Don'ts

Do turn your aerobic bin regularly. Once every 6-7 days is ideal, but it can be done as seldom as once a month. This will insure that air is supplied to all parts of the pile, and that all the material gets composted. When turning the pile, put the material from the middle of the pile outside, and vice versa, so that all the material will be composted.
Don’t put any meat, dairy products, fats, or oils into the compost pile. These materials tend to putrefy instead of breaking down, and will attract a wide variety of pests, including flies, rats, raccoons, stray dogs and cats, etc.
Don’t put dog and cat wastes into the compost pile. The manure from any animal that eats meat contains several pathogens which will survive the compost process, and affect any fruits or vegetables on which the compost may be used.
Do water your compost pile regularly - every 1-3 days in the summer, less often in the winter. Compost should be as moist as a wrung out sponge. If it gets too wet, air will not be able to get through the pile, and foul odors may arise. Likewise, if the pile gets too dry, decomposition will stop. Both aerobic and anaerobic systems need water, but the anaerobic will require less overall.
Questions? Riverside County has set up a special composting hot-line for questions about composting, bins, or the program itself. Feel free to call us at: (800) 366-SAVE (366-7283) And, plan to attend one of our Free Composting Workshops. Or check your local newspaper for a schedule of times, or call the hot-line number for the nearest workshop to you!