6 Tips on How to Compost and Avoid Flies, Odors, and More!
Dividing up compostable waste from garbage should be a process that every Canadian goes through. That said, composting can be complicated when you’re getting foul smells and fruit flies coming around.
As cities such as Montreal expand curbside compost pick-up across hundreds of thousands of households, it’s becoming more important to know what you’re doing when it comes to composing. For example, yes, meat and seafood are considered compostable materials and including these materials, there can present issues. Here are some tips on how to avoid these issues, which will keep your property compost-friendly and clean.
Always use Newspaper
Lining the bottom of your container with a single layer of newspaper will help absorb moisture. Never put liquids inside your compost container. This is designed specifically to address the moisture of other non-liquid materials.
The Power of Wine Corks
Cut a wine cork in half. Believe it or not, by placing this on top of your bin and/or around the outside of the container, it will reduce the amount of fruit flies that come around.
Baking Soda, Tea Tree Oil, and Clay all have a purpose
By using baking soda in sprinkles across the newspaper lining the bottom of your container, you can reduce odors significantly. Also, by mixing tea tree oil with water and spraying some of this on the newspaper, this also may do the trick. Putting white or green clay at the bottom of your bin also may accomplish a reduction of odors. Ultimately, use what works for you.
Another way to reduce odors is by storing the kitchen compost container inside a fridge or freezer. This might not be ideal for everyone but for some people, it’s an ideal way to reduce the odors that naturally emanate from seafood or meat as it sits in these containers waiting to be picked up.
Keep Squirrels Away
Squirrels and raccoons will become regular visitors if you aren’t careful. To repel these creatures, using a few drops of essential oils outside of your bins can do the trick. As these are expensive, an alternative is a menthol rub.
Stop the Contents from Freezing
Leaving compost outside in the winter, it will freeze. This makes it impossible to empty. Lining the bottom of your compost bin with newspaper and then adding a single layer of compostable items, followed by another layer of newspaper and continuing this technique until the bin is full – this is the only tested method to guard against this.
Compost Bags
Compostable bags can be helpful in controlling compost messes. Some regions don’t allow compostable bags however within their waste collection. Be sure to check your local garbage collection’s website for more information.
Evidently compost pick-up and the separation of compost from garbage is something that is going to be learned over time. While some Canadians are concerned about the flies and odours that some associate with composting, its environmental benefits must be acknowledged. With ways to guard against these types of bothers, any Canadian on a block that has compost collection should begin putting in the work to keep their composting waste bin clean and sans pests.
