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Can I use the output of an industrial composting facility in my vegetable garden? #775730

Asked October 18, 2021, 3:26 PM EDT

We have joined a local composting company that accepts: Food Waste (anything that used to be alive): produce (fruits, vegetables), meat, dairy, breads, etc. Coffee/Tea Grounds & Filters Spoiled food Plants & Flowers Compostable Paper Cups, Plates, Bowls Soiled paper (towels, napkins, cartons, etc) Pizza Boxes/Paper Board Wooden Stir Sticks Compostable Dinnerware Compostable Trash Bags Waxed Paper Sawdust Weeds For transfer to a regional industrial composting facility. In exchange, we occasionally get back some of their "black gold" compost. Is this compost safe for use in our vegetable garden?

Douglas County Colorado

Expert Response

Thank you for your question on the use of the output of the industrial composting material in your vegetable garden. I would not recommend you use this output in your vegetable garden. You can probably use it around your flowers. For use around your vegetables, i would only use a source that you can be pretty sure where it came from, like well composted animal manure or manufactured and bagged animal manure. Take great care around all that you plan to eat including any insecticides. Make sure they are rated for use on crops meant for eating.

Colorado Master Gardeners of Douglas County
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On Mon, Oct 18, 2021 at 1:28 PM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:

Hi Douglas County Master Gardeners,

Question #0045661 has been assigned to you by CSU E.

Can I use the output of an industrial composting facility in my vegetable garden?

We have joined a local composting company that accepts: Food Waste (anything that used to be alive): produce (fruits, vegetables), meat, dairy, breads, etc. Coffee/Tea Grounds & Filters Spoiled food Plants & Flowers Compostable Paper Cups, Plates, Bowls Soiled paper (towels, napkins, cartons, etc) Pizza Boxes/Paper Board Wooden Stir Sticks Compostable Dinnerware Compostable Trash Bags Waxed Paper Sawdust Weeds For transfer to a regional industrial composting facility. In exchange, we occasionally get back some of their "black gold" compost. Is this compost safe for use in our vegetable garden?

From: Ed Bade
Submitted: 10/18/2021 3:26 PM


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Kind Regards, Replied October 18, 2021, 5:45 PM EDT

Dear Douglas County Master Gardener,

Thank you for your reply. As a result of your input and some further investigations, our nearest Ace Hardware store (The Big Tool Box) is going to start carrying the certified/tested A1 Organics ECOGROW compost that comes out of Denver’s household composting program.

Best regards,

Ed Bade

 

From: askextension=<personal data hidden> [mailto:askextension=<personal data hidden>] On Behalf Of Ask Extension
Sent: Monday, October 18, 2021 3:45 PM
To: Ed Bade
Subject: Re: Can I use the output of an industrial composting facility in my vegetable garden? (#0045661)

 

The Question Asker Replied November 01, 2021, 12:06 PM EDT

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