Bread OK for compost piles?

[wsommariva]

I throw bread into the bins. Mostly grain so I figured it's OK. Any disagreements here?

[rainbowgardener]

I have read not to compost bread, pasta, etc because it doesn't break down very well. HOWEVER, I do it all the time and have never had any trouble or had any bread still visible when other stuff has broken down. Personally, I think it is fine.

[cynthia_h]

Same here; I've thrown random bread into my primary compost pile and not had any problems. I do NOT throw it into my worm habitat, though.

Cynthia H.
Sunset Zone 17, USDA Zone 9

[wsommariva]

Thanks. I think it breaks down very quickly.

[bogydave]

I also throw bread in the compost, worms love it, especially whole wheat :).
Seems to disappear pretty quick.

[bogydave]

[quote="bogydave"]I also throw bread in the compost, worms love it, especially whole wheat
Seems to disappear pretty quick.

oops
[/quote]

[stylemichelle21]

Everything I've read says bread is OK for a compost pile. A list of compost "don't's" from the U of Illinois website are "bones, cat and dog manure, cheese, chicken, fat, fish scraps, milk, meat, noxious weeds, and oils."

[wsommariva]

Nice list thanks....add seeds to that I guess if you don't get real hot compost. Boy do I have a creeping myrtle problem in one bed.

[vermontkingdom]

[quote="stylemichelle21"]Everything I've read says bread is OK for a compost pile. A list of compost "don't's" from the U of Illinois website are [I]"bones, cat and dog manure, cheese, chicken, fat, fish scraps, milk, meat, noxious weeds, and oils."

I often violate this list. All these things, with the exception of pet manure, are routinely added to my active bin. I've never had a problem so I'm not sure why there is such reticence.

[toxcrusadr]

It's funny they listed 'chicken' and 'fish scraps' and also 'meat.' Seems a bit redundant. Which to me calls the entire thing into question, as though they aren't thinking about it too much. That said, those are the common 'don'ts', and I often violate them in small ways also.

[rainbowgardener]

Yeah, I'm a vegetarian, so I never have fish, chicken, meat stuff around. But I have put small amounts of cheese and dairy into my compost pile with no ill effect. But it is enclosed so that the critters can't get to it.