Can I put shit in my compost bin?

NO ✋🏼

You can't put shit into your composting bin!

Essential Guide to Composting: Can You Add Human Waste?

Understanding Home Composting Rules

Home composting is an effective way to recycle kitchen scraps and garden waste, turning them into nutrient-rich compost for your plants. However, when it comes to adding human waste to compost, there are specific guidelines that need to be followed to ensure safety and efficiency.

The General Rule on Human Waste

It's widely accepted that human waste is generally not recommended for your standard home compost bin. This is because of potential health risks associated with pathogens and bacteria present in fecal matter. However, with the right approach and management, composting human waste can be done safely.

The Science of Composting Human Waste

Decomposition Timeframe

Human waste requires a decomposition period ranging from 6 months to 1 year. This prolonged timeframe is essential for safely breaking down pathogens to non-harmful levels.

Carbon to Nitrogen Ratio

The carbon to nitrogen ratio (C:N ratio) is a critical factor in composting, aiming for a balance that promotes effective decomposition. Human waste has a C:N ratio of 5:1, indicating a higher nitrogen content. To maintain a healthy composting process, balancing this with carbon-rich "brown" materials is crucial.

Implementing a Composting Toilet

A practical solution for composting human waste is the use of a composting toilet. This device separates liquid and solid waste, facilitating the composting process. By combining human waste with other organic materials, a composting toilet creates an environment where decomposition can occur safely, producing compost nearly ready for use in non-edible plant applications.

Achieving the Perfect Composting Mix

Balancing Browns and Greens

Creating the perfect compost involves balancing "green" nitrogen-rich materials and "brown" carbon-rich materials. While human waste contributes significantly to the nitrogen component, adding sufficient brown materials such as dry leaves, straw, or sawdust is vital to balance the compost mix and ensure a successful composting process.

Questions and Answers

Q: Can I put human waste directly into my garden compost bin? A: Generally, it's not recommended to add human waste directly to a home compost bin due to health risks. Instead, consider using a composting toilet designed for safe decomposition.

Q: How long does it take for human waste to decompose in a composting system? A: The decomposition of human waste in a composting system typically takes between 6 months to 1 year, depending on the composting conditions and management.

Q: What is the ideal carbon to nitrogen ratio (C:N) for composting human waste? A: Human waste has a C:N ratio of approximately 5:1. Achieving a balanced compost requires adding carbon-rich materials to adjust this ratio favorably for composting.