compostable diapers

Is there some reason why disposable diapers are not compostable?

The plastic liner, if nothing else.

Plus, most folks recommend against using human waste in compost.

And, esp. for the ones with super-absorbancy, lots of petrochemical

Other than the fact that the plastic is not degradable, human waste, or the waste from any protein consuming animal, is not safe. Cow and horse waste (manure) are fine. You should never put meat, fat or bones in your compost either. Maybe this question is better asked in a gardening forum?

jojo

And don't forget the sodium polyacrylate, and dioxin traces.

What do you do with your bones, meat, and fat that you throw out? (We don't have a garbage disposal.)

Uh, nevermind. I was thinking 'compost' meant 'garbage'.

It goes in the trash.

Actually, right now we don't HAVE a compost pile, so any food items that don't go down the garbage disposal go in the trash.

I would have thought you'd say that human waste (humanure) was un-safe because of some disease chain possibility or something. But you say that *ANY* protein-consuming animal's waste is unsafe. Further fat and bones are not safe for compost?

Please explain more. I have heard of 'humanure' and composting toilets. What is the danger here?

From the wonderful rainbow gatherings I have learned to appropriately bury human waste and cover with lime or fire-ash so as to avoid the feces -> flies -> food disease chain. So assuming your 'humanure' is safe from flies, what is the issue?

And what is the issue with other protein consuming animals' waste in compost? And of bones and fat (and perhaps meat and skin scraps)?

Is it only un-safe for certain uses? For example, is it okay to use compost from such materials in a flower garden, but unsafe for a vegetable garden (or other garden meant for medicinal or food consumption)? This would make sense to me if you are talking about the accumulation and concentration of pollutants (such as dioxins, which accumulate in fats).

Finally, what can you tell me about cow or other manure that comes from farms? I have heard that there are all sorts of strange things being put into animal feed these days. Just because cows don't naturally eat proteins, is it possible that farmer joe's cows *are* eating proteins? What is the implication? What questions should be asked?

If there are dangers, what is their nature? Is it a general caution or something to be very concerned over?

Peace and thanks in advance,

Morningdew,

The caution is one of transmissable foodborne disease, which may be spread by a manure route. For example, uncooked meat scraps may contain Salmonella, that can be spread onto vegetable gardens if they survive the composting process. Ditto with dog manure, which can contain roundworms.

IF the compost is done correctly, (ie., reaches a temperature of 150 degrees for 2 d), all pathogenic bacteria should be killed. However, with small backyard piles, and without a proper carbon source (such as dried leaves or shredded newspaper), it's hard to get the little compost bacteria excited enough to cook that high.

The problem with fats is that they are bacteriostatic, ie., they tend to stop bacteria from growing. This is not good for compost piles, that make heat from bacterial growth. Slow down the bacteria = not enough heat = lousy compost.

Now, if you can get a big enough pile (I'm talking farm scale, about 7 ft high), the bacteria can handle anything you throw at them. I personally have seen whole pigs composted before - a 500-lb sow will disappear, except for a few bones, in 2 to 3 days. There will literally be nothing left except for maybe a piece of a leg bone.

But for the little garden bin, its a bad idea to throw too much junk into the system. There's just not enough critters to handle it. Plus, if you throw meat scraps on top, you may start attracting possums and other wildlife, who will nest in your compost pile (Remember, it's nice and cozy warm in there while the compost process is running). It's not fun to take the lid off the top of your composter in the spring and find a snarling racoon mommy looking back at you.

Thanks, that is helpful. I do not have any experience with composting, but have been kicking around the idea of starting a vegetable garden and a compost pile this spring. I will be new to gardening, too.