city yard waste compost--is it safe?

annamagpie 4/5/2012, 11:53 am

Hi, Our city collects yard waste and composts it. It's very inexpensive. Does anyone know if the pesticides etc. from the yards remain in the compost?

Thanks in advance for your replies.

curio 4/5/2012, 12:18 pm

I won't take a chance on it. Pesticides and herbicides applied to any of the sources for it can and do remain. It's just not worth the risk for me.

Too Tall Tomatoes 4/5/2012, 12:23 pm

I wouldn't use that either. You just never know what's in there.

chjbr63 4/5/2012, 12:31 pm

city yard waste compost--is it safe? 396615

To the forum

Yes the pesticides ect stays in the compost. Do Craigslist search for compost/manure and you will find some free/cheap there and the rest you have buy. Start your own compost pile ASP for future use.

annamagpie 4/5/2012, 12:34 pm

darn it, I knew you were gonna say that . Laughing

kbb964 4/5/2012, 1:38 pm

Well I am not an expert but my research led me to believe that all pesticides are gone after the curing of the compost. There are good and bad I guess with city composts. Depends what they allow and whether they use sludge etc and their screening, curing process. I have used some. I checked the soil test results for my local one and they seemed real good!

annamagpie 4/5/2012, 3:07 pm

Thank you--this is good to know. I didn't even think about calling the city and seeing if they had any test results.

philct 4/5/2012, 4:21 pm

annamagpie wrote:Thank you--this is good to know. I didn't even think about calling the city and seeing if they had any test results.

Easiest way is to call them. I have a transfer station not 1 mile from my house and went and picked up leaf compost for free. I asked them about pesticides and such and their feeling was it should be safe. Free compost, yay!!! bounce

curio 4/5/2012, 6:25 pm

I don't worry as much about pesticides as I do about those people that still insist on using Roundup and similar herbicides. Those generally have a MUCH longer "half life" than what is advertised.

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city yard waste compost--is it safe?

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thanks!

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