Can I Put Moldy Items in My Compost Pile/Bin?

Is it okay to put moldy items in my compost pile?

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Can I Put Moldy Items in My Compost Pile/Bin?

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Nov 05, 2011
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The Answer is a Big Ol'...
by: Compost Junkie Dave

YES!!!

Mold is naturally going to occur within your compost pile. You'll really get to see the mold spreading if you're using a static pile method (i.e. not turning your compost ingredients once your pile is built).

Mold is a fungi that helps breakdown many different ingredients within your pile, especially those hard-to-degrade woody substances (e.g. corn stalks, branches, and straw).

Think of yourself as doing your compost pile a favor...you're inoculating it.

Nov 27, 2011
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Moldy Compost Photos
by: Compost Junkie Dave

Attached are a few photos I took of the mold growing inside one of our compost bins. That's NOT snow you're seeing, that's fungal hyphae...aka mold. It's decomposing the compost ingredients underneath it, in this case, that's litter and manure from our pet bunnies.

I also attached a picture of a moldy sweet potato which is being broken down.

The ingredients in this homemade compost bin have not been turned yet. We're currently using a static composting method. Once the bin fills up, we'll flip it into the adjacent bin and start again.

Hope this helps.

Happy Composting!

CJD

Compost_Mold