While I admit, my original thought was that compostable litter would be collected and put into our town’s compost bin for weekly pickup, research led me to realize that it could be composted on site, at your home. But, is this a good idea? There are important things to consider if you are planning to compost cat litter yourself.
How to Compost Cat Litter
Composting is the most efficient way to dispose of biogradable cat litter. It reduces the amount of trash sent to landfills. It also produces a rich fertilizer that can be used to grow flowers and other plants. But it isn’t as easy as throwing away your old cat litter. You need to know what kind of material you’re dealing with before you start composting.
What Types of Litter Can Be Composted?
Any biodegradable, non-toxic, plant-based cat litters can be composted. Clay and crystal cat litter can’t be composted because they are toxic. Wood pellet litter can’t be compost because it contains chemicals.
Composting Cat Litter Isn’t for Everyone
Composting cat litter is a great idea, in terms of keeping it out of landfills. But you need to make sure that you place it far away from any structures, water sources, and food growing areas.
Compost piles should be turned every week or two. This helps them break down faster. Cities and towns may have rules about composting. Rats and other pests can cause problems if you try to make compost in your backyard.
Is it Safe to Compost Cat Litter?
Cat litter can be dangerous if not handled properly. You can get sick by using cat litter as fertilizer. Don’t use cat litter around plants. Be sure to wash your hands thoroughly after handling compost. Don’t use composted cat litter if you’re pregnant or have a weakened immune system.
What’s the Best EcoFriendly Cat Litter?
Eco-friendly cat litters are made out of natural materials such as corn husks, rice hulls, wheat straw, sawdust, wood chips, peat moss, coconut shells, and other plant fibers. These products are more sustainable than traditional clay-based litters because they do not contain any chemicals and are generally compostable. Some of these litters also come in recyclable packaging.
What’s the Final Scoop?
Personally, I will be tossing my compostable litter into our town’s pickup bins. There just seem to be too many potential health risks with composting the litter at home. And really, if I’m composting at home, it’s because I want to be able to us that compost for growing a healthy garden. So, it’s a hard pass for me. That being said, we recently switched to the compostable kind rather than the clumping clay stuff we were using in the past, and I’m a fan! Our 2 cats seem to be too.