The Big, Bad World of Compost

A lot of the time, reading about sustainable lifestyle and how to learn the basics of it leads to, amongst other things- recycling food waste.

It looks easy. Dry in dry, wet in wet, and saving all-natural produce to give back to the Earth. That is until composting is tried. There are several steps involved and lots of patience. With lots of patience also comes lots of risks. The hygiene aspect of composting is rarely talked about and chances are, if you compost at a small scale from your household kitchen, you are exposing yourself to possibly harmful pathogens. The basis of composting is rooted in bacteria. This alone should be enough to put you on high alert. It is the bacteria’s job to eat and nourish waste raw foods into nutritious, plant-growing soil. It is imperative that the human body not stay in the presence of decaying matter for too long. The different types of mold, fungi, and bacteria that may be found in a compost heap could lead to several infections and rashes, especially of the skin. Some pathogens are even seen in the form of airborne viruses.

Based on a study from the University of Strathclyde investigating the presence of legionella in compost, it was found that legionella species existed in 14 out of 22 commercial composts tested. Four contained species are known to have caused disease in humans. Legionella is known as a bacteria that causes pneumonia-like symptoms and can sometimes be rather harmful.

Sometimes pesticides, fungicides, and other chemicals can wound up in garden soil if your compost pit happens to be outside. These chemicals could not only ruin all the good bacteria in your compost but also possible harm your health and lead to unforeseen sicknesses Soil can be contaminated with other industrial products, especially if your compost is on a former industrial site. How these will react with natural microbes in the compost may vary, but putting contaminated soil into compost is proven to have negative effects on the plant you wish to grow.

However, most of these refer to industrial compost production. Making compost for the masses, to buy in bags. A simple search on compost will tell you how easy it is to make your own, at home. Making compost at home is safer because you know what exactly goes into your plants and how they have been used and when. But kitchen compost making requires a certain level of education to prevent an unhygienic environment. Leaving wet waste to ferment and rot in a kitchen where fresh food is cooked almost every day, will lead to complications. Not to mention that compost attracts various flies, mites, and worms that are integral to the composting process. The humid temperature that is often found in family kitchens makes it a magnet for these insects. The basics of waste separation will have to be taught and basic safety measures like sanitizing hands, wearing gloves ( if prone to skin infection), and never breathing in too much putrid air.

Pets may smell food like chicken bones and investigate the compost bin, if in reach. Needless to say, ingesting compost is harmful to the animal and the humans in its vicinity. Pets may get an infection or sickness that may make them harmful in sanitized areas. Handling rotten food is not an easy task, as it could require routine check-ups and has no room for negligence.

However, we at SHARP believe in the power of compost and everything it stands for. The good far outnumber the bad, but composting requires awareness of potential illnesses ( eg. Aspergillosis, Legionnaires Disease, Histoplasmosis) and safety measures.

We recommend speaking to households that compost before starting on your journey. There are several blogs and videos online to get you started. Hygiene issues in daily life are not given enough importance, although the consequences of letting food rot in your living space without proper precautions should be obvious. Composting is the right step in the direction of sustainability and a much kinder lifestyle, but stay safe in the process! We cannot wait for all of our readers to start their composting journey in the best, most hygienic way possible.

Stay safe! Maya Ribeiro SHARP

References: https://www.nachi.org/compost-pile-hazards.htm

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/oct/20/is-compost-harmful-to-our-health