Composting is an excellent method of turning food scraps and other organic waste into nutrient-rich soil.
However, not all food waste can be added to your compost. Some gardeners recommend not adding meat and dairy to your compost, as they do not easily decompose and may attract pests and mess up your compost.
So, if dairy products are usually avoided, then what about cheese? Can you compost cheese? The short answer is yes, you can.
In this article, we will explain why and how you can include cheese wax in your compost without smelling and attracting pests.
Can You Compost Cheese? Understanding the Benefits and Challenges of Cheese Composting
Cheese is a dairy product produced from milk and processed into different ranges of textures, tastes, flavors, and shapes by coagulation of the milk protein called Casein. The most important nutrients in cheese are protein and the fat content. The milk is usually sourced from animals such as cows, goats, buffalo, and sheep.
There are three main reasons why compost enthusiasts avoid cheese in their compost:
- Cheese, with its high moisture content and dairy composition, slows down the composting process. Cheese wax and other cheese-based products decompose under different conditions and timelines compared to common compostables like vegetable scraps, which may mess up your compost.
- Cheese can emit an unpleasant odor which can disturb both the owner and their neighbors.
- Cheese can attract pests and rodents with their bad smell, resulting in more disturbance to the owner.
However, all these issues can be avoided when the cheese is added to the compost with proper composting preparation and maintenance in mind.
When you do it right, composted cheese offers a wealth of benefits that can boost the health and productivity of your plants.
Composted cheese is rich in essential nutrients. Its high calcium and protein content can significantly enhance soil health, leading to stronger and more productive plants.
Here are a few specific benefits of composted cheese:
- Improves soil structure: Composted cheese can enhance the loaminess of your soil, improving its ability to retain water and nutrients.
- Boosts microbial activity: The decomposition process fosters beneficial microorganisms, which play a key role in soil health.
- Enhances sustainability: By composting cheese, you’re reducing food waste and creating a closed-loop system in your garden, reflecting a truly eco-friendly lifestyle.
Different Methods For Cheese Composting
When it comes to turning your cheese scraps into rich, garden-ready compost, understanding the various composting methods is key.
Here are a few methods you can use to effectively compost cheese:
- Traditional Composting: This involves layering your compost with a mix of ‘greens’ (like cheese) and ‘browns’ (like leaves or newspaper) in a compost bin or pile. Remember to turn your compost pile regularly to speed up the decomposition process.
- Vermicomposting: This method uses worms to eat through your compost. However, be cautious as too much cheese can create a smelly problem.
- Bokashi Composting: This method uses beneficial microorganisms in a Bokashi bin to decompose cheese and other organic waste. Simply add cheese scraps and a sprinkle of Bokashi bran to start the process. This efficient and odor-free method is ideal for composting cheese.
- Hot Composting: This method involves creating a bigger compost pile that generates heat, speeding up the composting process.
- Electric Composting: This method uses an electric composter to break down cheese and other waste quickly through heat and agitation. Just add the cheese, and let the device do the rest. This hassle-free method produces nutrient-rich compost in record time.
Each method has its pros and cons, so it’s important to choose the one or the ideal combination that best suits your needs and abilities.
Effective Tips For Composting Cheese
Cheese is just like any other organic matter, which can be composted. It is even easier to decompose than most organic matters, such as pineapple crowns and avocado rinds.
Here’s how to safely compost your cheese:
1. Do not add too much to the compost bin or pile
Quantity matters. Adding too much cheese can make the compost smell extremely bad when the cheese starts to decompose. So, to reduce the odor, do not add too much cheese.
2. Use a modern electric composter
Nowadays, there are modern electric composters that can quickly make the composting process less time-consuming. You just need to add the cheese and other kitchen and garden waste into the electric composter and give it time to decompose.
This automated method is very efficient as it helps prevent bad odor, which can be emitted from cheese compost.
3. Place the cheese waste in the center of your compost bin or pile
Properly layer other compostable materials up to the center of the compost bin or pile, and then add your cheese waste. Bury the cheese with other compostable materials until the compost bin or pile is filled up.
4. Place your compost bin or pile under the sun
Do not just place the compost bin or pile on a random spot. Find a good place in your backyard where there is sufficient sunlight. Sun can help generate heat in the compost. This heat, in turn, can speed up the composting process.
5. Find a ventilated spot for your compost bin or pile
Locate the compost bin or pile in an area where there is enough movement of air. This can help limit the smell by providing sufficient air or oxygen to the compost.
6. Turn the compost from time to time
If you are using a traditional compost bin or pile to compost the cheese waste, make sure to turn the compost timely. This turning can help increase aeration and heat in the compost, which increases the activities of decomposition organisms that are living in the compost.
Additional Tips for Composting Dairy Products
The right methods for composting dairy products ensure a healthy and odor-free compost pile.
Balance is key. Dairy products like milk, yogurt, and regular cheese are high in moisture and fat, which can slow down the composting process and attract pests. Combat this by adding dry, carbon-rich materials like leaves, straw, or shredded paper.
These ‘browns’ help balance out the ‘greens’ like cheese, creating a healthy compost pile that’s moist but not wet.
Break large chunks of dairy or cheese into smaller pieces and add them in small amounts to avoid disrupting the compost’s balance. Regularly turn your pile to speed up decomposition and maintain its health.
Factors Affecting the Decomposition Rate of Cheese
Several factors come into play in determining how quickly cheese decomposes. These include:
- Type of Cheese: The rate of decomposition varies based on the cheese variety. Hard cheeses, like cheddar or gouda, will decompose slower than softer cheeses, like brie or ricotta, due to their lower moisture content.
- Temperature: The process of decomposition is significantly accelerated in warmer temperatures as it creates a more conducive environment for microorganisms to thrive and carry out the breakdown process.
- Presence of Microorganisms: The decomposition rate is contingent upon the presence and activity level of microorganisms that break down organic matter. Bacteria, fungi, and insects play a pivotal role in decomposing cheese.
- Preservatives: Many varieties of cheese contain preservatives that inhibit the growth of microorganisms, thus slowing down the decomposition process.
- Humidity: A humid environment could expedite the decomposition process as it provides a more suitable environment for the microorganisms to thrive.
Using Cheese Compost as Fertilizer
You can use cheese compost as a nutrient-rich fertilizer to enhance your garden’s soil health and plant growth. This unique compost adds a punch of nutrients like calcium and protein that are beneficial to your plants.
However, using cheese compost requires a bit of know-how. First, you need to apply the compost to your garden correctly.
- Spread a thin layer of cheese compost evenly over your soil’s surface. This method, called top-dressing, slowly enriches the soil as it breaks down further.
- You can also mix your cheese compost into potting soil for potted plants.
Conclusion
Composting cheese and other dairy can be tricky but rewarding for your garden if done correctly. By carefully considering the cheese type, temperature, microorganisms, and moisture, you can create healthy compost.
Employing methods like traditional, vermicomposting, Bokashi, hot, and electric composting can speed up the process and reduce odors. By using these strategies, what’s usually seen as a composting hurdle can be turned into eco-friendly soil enrichment!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you compost cheesecloth?
Cheesecloth can be added to the compost system if the materials from which the cheesecloth is made are organic matters, not synthetic.
Can you compost cheese wax?
Yes, wax from cheese can be composted. But make sure the wax is digested using a composter digester. This can help increase the surface area for easy breakdown by the decomposers.
Can you compost cottage cheese?
Yes, you can compost cottage cheese. However, due to its high moisture content, be sure to balance it with dry, brown materials. This will help maintain the health of the compost and foster beneficial microbial activity.
Is vegan cheese compostable?
Just like normal cheese, vegan cheese is made of organic matter, and more importantly. In other words, there should be nothing stopping you from compositing vegan cheese.
Can you compost meat and dairy products?
Both dairy and meat products can be odorous. However, if you add them in small quantities and follow the basic preparation and maintenance of composting, as I discussed above, you can compost them without a problem.
Can you put sour milk when vermicomposting?
If you are vermicomposting, do not put sour milk into your compost. This is because most worms operate within a narrow pH. However, if you are using a traditional composting method, which involves many other decomposition microorganisms and decomposers such as bacteria, fungi, and millipedes. You can add your sour milk but in small quantities.
Can I put moldy cheese in the compost?
Yes, you can put moldy cheese in your compost. The mold is a sign of decomposition, which is beneficial to the composting process. Just remember to balance it with ‘brown’ compost materials to avoid any unpleasant smells or attracting pests.
Is cheese biodegradable?
Yes, cheese is biodegradable. As an organic substance derived from milk, cheese can be broken down naturally by bacteria, fungi, and other environmental decomposers. After full decomposition, it turns into simple organic materials enriching the soil.
