Can I compost animal bones, meat and seafood?

4 February 2014  |  HOTBIN Composting

Most animal bones, meat and seafood can be composted, albeit at a much slower rate than other items. It is recommended that large animal bones and whole carcasses are cut into smaller pieces and that meat is cooked and in chunks before it is added to the HOTBIN in a bid to speed up their decomposition.

 

Bones/meat/seafood Will it Decay Cold
Compost
HOTBIN compost Rate of decay in the HOTBIN Comments
Bones (chicken, duck, birds, fish)       Yes Not Advised Yes Slow Cooked bones are ok to hot compost - just ensure that larger bones are chopped into smaller pieces with secateurs.
Cockle and mussel shells Yes Not Advised Yes Slow Carefully break shells into fragments with a hammer.
Crab and lobster shells Yes Not Advised Yes Slow Carefully break shells into fragments with a hammer.
Eggs (chicken, ducks) Yes Yes Yes Slow Carefully break shells into fragments.
Fish skins Yes Not Advised Yes Fast  
Meat (cooked) Yes Not Advised Yes Fast Chop it into small chunks (<4cm) - make sure there are no large bones.