Pacific Northwest Garden Forum: compost material

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CJoy
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Joined: Apr-09-2011
Location: Oregon, Greater Portland Metro
Posts: 100

Topic: compost material
Posted: Apr-07-2012 at 11:19am

Can you use the lump misquite charcoal "crumbles" in your compost? I know you can use wood ash, but I don't see it listed in the materials you can add to compost, the lump style seems to have more than the usual amount of dust and crumbles in the bottom of the bag.

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greenmann
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Joined: Jan-13-2006
Location: Washington, Puget Sound Corridor
Posts: 534

Posted: Apr-09-2012 at 5:02pm

the only reason i would be leary of a product like this is if there are any accelerants in the ingredient list. I don't know if this product even has an ingredient list on the package (or if they have a website with the information, or even a contact you can try to get information) but that would be my main concern.

Charcoal and ash on their own are fine for composting. They may even have a beneficial effect in the way they are able to bind toxins in general, and "sweeten" the mix by adding an alkiline element to offset the generally acidifying processes of composting.

accelerants (products added to make them more flammable) may upset that balance, may have some nasty side affects of their own, and since composting tends to heat things up, may pose a serious threat of spontaneous combustion in your compost pile if things heat sufficiently to trigger the accelerant.

Green Man Gardens
design and consulting with a focus on native plants and wildlife habitat

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CJoy
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Joined: Apr-09-2011
Location: Oregon, Greater Portland Metro
Posts: 100

Posted: Apr-10-2012 at 7:25pm

I think I will "cool it" It may not be the best recycle choice! The information on the bag, which I have never bothered to read, states there are no additives, however the crumbles I have are from a different bag, which left here after smoking the thanksgiving turkey.

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DebbieTT
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Sunset zone 5, USDA zone 8

Joined: Jan-25-2003
Location: Washington, Kitsap Peninsula
Posts: 4241

Posted: Apr-10-2012 at 10:42pm

I too second Brett's warnings of the accelerants in the products. Everything I've read says not for the garden.

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Author	Message
CJoy none Joined: Apr-09-2011 Location: Oregon, Greater Portland Metro Posts: 100	Topic: compost material Posted: Apr-07-2012 at 11:19am
	Can you use the lump misquite charcoal "crumbles" in your compost? I know you can use wood ash, but I don't see it listed in the materials you can add to compost, the lump style seems to have more than the usual amount of dust and crumbles in the bottom of the bag.
	CJ

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greenmann none Joined: Jan-13-2006 Location: Washington, Puget Sound Corridor Posts: 534	Posted: Apr-09-2012 at 5:02pm
	the only reason i would be leary of a product like this is if there are any accelerants in the ingredient list. I don't know if this product even has an ingredient list on the package (or if they have a website with the information, or even a contact you can try to get information) but that would be my main concern. Charcoal and ash on their own are fine for composting. They may even have a beneficial effect in the way they are able to bind toxins in general, and "sweeten" the mix by adding an alkiline element to offset the generally acidifying processes of composting. accelerants (products added to make them more flammable) may upset that balance, may have some nasty side affects of their own, and since composting tends to heat things up, may pose a serious threat of spontaneous combustion in your compost pile if things heat sufficiently to trigger the accelerant.
	Green Man Gardens design and consulting with a focus on native plants and wildlife habitat
	IP Logged

CJoy none Joined: Apr-09-2011 Location: Oregon, Greater Portland Metro Posts: 100	Posted: Apr-10-2012 at 7:25pm
	I think I will "cool it" It may not be the best recycle choice! The information on the bag, which I have never bothered to read, states there are no additives, however the crumbles I have are from a different bag, which left here after smoking the thanksgiving turkey.
	CJ
	IP Logged

DebbieTT Admin Group Sunset zone 5, USDA zone 8 Joined: Jan-25-2003 Location: Washington, Kitsap Peninsula Posts: 4241	Posted: Apr-10-2012 at 10:42pm
	I too second Brett's warnings of the accelerants in the products. Everything I've read says not for the garden.
	IP Logged