Compost Troubleshooting
The compost has a bad odor.
| Problem |
Solutions |
| Not enough air.Not enough water.Too small. |
Turn it, add dry material if the pile is too wet. |
The center of the pile is dry.
| Problem |
Solutions |
| Lack of nitrogen. |
Moisten and turn the pile. |
The compost is damp and warm only in the middle.
| Problem |
Solutions |
| Pile is too small. |
Collect more material and mix the old ingredients into a
new pile. |
The heap is damp and sweet-smelling but still will not heat up.
| Problem |
Solutions |
| Lack of nitrogen. |
Mix in a nitrogen source like fresh grass clippings, manure
or fertilizer. |
Large, undecomposed items are still in the mix.
| Problem |
Solutions |
| Low surface area. |
Remove items, and chop or shred large items. |
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