Compost Smells

[johninblackpool]

Hi Grapes

This is my first year using a compost dalek and started adding things to the bin back in April over the last couple of days it has started to smell of Ammonia and was wondering if this is normal and if not what is causing it or is there anything that i can do to stop it if it shouldn't smell like that.

[rana]

Stop peeing in it.

[johninblackpool]

I have never tried that...
Why would people want to Pee in their Compost Bin
URHHHH

[zazen999]

Add some brown stuff......


NO!!! Not that - you need to balance the greens [grass clippings, weeds, foliage, food scrapings and peelings] with browns [cardboard, newspapers, other compostable papers based products, lots of which come in the junk mail].

[Two_Sheds]

As Zaz says: you probably have too much green stuff. You need to mix it with dry stuff too (browns). The easiest way is to wrap all kitchen peelings in a sheet or two of newspaper.

As to fixing it now ... you need to turn it. Take the whole thing off, mix it all up with some scrunched up balls of newspaper. Whole egg boxes will create useful air pockets too.

[johninblackpool]

Cheers zazen & two sheds will give it a try

[NOG]

also break up any egg shells and they will stink.

[johninblackpool]

Cheers NOG will tell the OH she just throws everything in
I will check later if the kitchen sink is still there..... LOL

[Dynamo]

I have never tried that...
Why would people want to Pee in their Compost Bin
URHHHH

Its a common thing to do because it helps the stuff rot down better. I think I first saw it mentioned by Bob Flowerdew on Gardners World, though you didn't actually see him do it . He just had a watering can with some pee in it and sprinkled it onto the heap. If your compost is too wet its probably not a good idea to do it, but once you've started adding brown stuff it will be a good idea.

[annacruachan]

Pee adds nitrogen to your compost, which helps your plants to grow as well as helping the compost to rot down quickly. I have to agree on the smell though. Okay if the bin is well away from the house!

[NOG]

You should water down the pee. If the compost smells there is somethig wrong. It is usualy too wet try adding shredded paper andgive it a stur.