Meat is one of those things people either believe definitely can or absolutely cannot be composted at home. We’re here to tell you it definitely can — but with some caveats. 

Most municipal composting programs allow meat in their pick-up or drop-off centers, which is easy enough. Composting meat at home, however, requires a certain kind of dedication — which is why it’s often recommended that only expert composters attempt it. You know, the people who know how to keep hot compost hot and exactly what temperature their pile is at all times. However! That doesn’t mean new composters won't benefit from the info we’ve got for you here — the only way to get to expert level is to learn everything there is to know. So, let’s dive in. 

Can you compost meat at home?

Just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should do something — as with most of life’s big decisions, though, it’s totally up to you. Cooked and raw meat is organic material, meaning that with time, heat, and microorganism activity, it will decompose. So yes, meat can be composted. 

“These materials are highly compostable and will add nutrient and organic matter value to compost,” says Andrew Carpenter, soil scientist at Northern Tilth. However, he warns that meat will generally take longer than other materials in your pile to decompose. Also, because meat is prone to creating excessive odors during composting, it’s more likely to attract rodents and neighborhood wildlife like rats and raccoons. Therefore, it’s recommended that only experienced composters venture into the world of composting meat in backyard piles. And these experienced composters should be diligent and follow the tips outlined below. 

Tips for composting meat at home

High heat, lots of turning, and keeping the pieces small are all necessary steps for successfully compost meat at home.

Keep a high heat and turn your compost pile frequently 

Meat needs high temperatures to break down, and high temperatures also help kill any potentially harmful pathogens in the pile. Make sure to layer your pile and turn frequently to maintain a minimum temperature of 135^oF — this composting method is called hot composting. Keep a thermometer handy and stick it in the center of your compost pile to keep track of the temperature. 

Maintain an appropriate balance of greens and browns

Because meat is a green material that’s very high in nitrogen, you might need to do more work to balance greens and browns in your pile. Compost needs a ratio of approximately three parts brown to one part green to stay active and ensure decomposition is happening. When adding meat to your pile, you might need to add more brown material mass. The three parts carbon to one part nitrogen will still stay the same.

Carpenter also recommends adding an additional 12-18 inch layer of browns without any greens to cap the actively composting pile as a physical and odor barrier to nearby wildlife. That could mean adding a solid layer of leaves, twigs, brown paper bags, and the like to the top. 

Use a free-standing, self-contained system

Because raw and cooked meat can attract pests in compost heaps, consider using a tumbler or other self-contained composting system. This will keep the smell in and keep pests out. It’s also easier to maintain a high temperature in a compost bin as opposed to a pile because the bin can trap heat inside, whereas a pile’s heat will dissipate off the top of the pile. 

Use the bokashi method

The bokashi method involves fermenting meat to help it break down faster. When you bokashi, after the meat is fermented, you then add the fermented material that is created to your pile. It’s important to know that what is created once the meat is fermented is not actual compost: This material needs to be added to your compost pile or bin to then further break down.  It’s not advised to add bokashi-fermented matter directly to your plants or soil, as its high acidity can be harmful. 

Keep pieces small 

One of the main drawbacks of composting meat is that it takes a long time to decompose in compost. Breaking the material into very small pieces before adding it to your pile will help speed up the composting process. 

Cook the bones

Raw bones will also go rancid and decompose much more slowly than cooked bones. Make sure there is no excess meat on the bones, and if they haven’t already been cooked, throw them in the oven or on an open fire before adding them to your compost pile. This will also help kill potentially harmful pathogens, like E. coli,  which can survive in compost if they aren’t killed beforehand. 

Pre-process with Mill

Pre-processing meat scraps with a Mill food recycler reduces the risk of attracting unwanted pests to your backyard compost pile. Mill eliminates odors and speeds up the decomposition process by turning food waste into small, nutrient-rich Food Grounds, which break down more quickly in compost. So, not only can composting meat become easier, you can also avoid the somewhat arduous process of preparing meat for your compost pile. 

Can you compost meat through a city-run program?

Of the 261 curbside composting programs BioCycle surveyed in 2023, 231 will process meat and dairy. This means that almost all major cities can compost meat at either pick-up or drop-off compost facilities. There’s a caveat here: Of the 169 drop-off programs reporting, only 156 take meat and dairy — some New York City cites, for example, accept meat via their pick-up but not drop-off program. This means that you should always check with your local program to make sure that they can accept meat before including it in your compost bin.

Sources: 

1. United States Environmental Protection Agency: “Composting at Home.” September 27, 2024. https://www.epa.gov/recycle/composting-home

2. Journal of Environmental Science (China): “Survival of pathogenic bacteria in compost with special reference to Escherichia coli.” 2005. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16313000/

3. BioCycle: “BioCycle Nationwide Survey: Residential Food Waste Collection Access In The U.S.” September 11, 2023. https://www.biocycle.net/residential-food-waste-collection-access-in-u-s/

4. New York Department of Transportation: “Food Scrap Drop-Off.” https://www.nyc.gov/site/dsny/collection/residents/food-scrap-drop-off.page

General reference:

1. Seattle Public Utilities: “Composting Yard and Food Waste at Home.” 2009. https://www.seattle.gov/documents/Departments/SPU/EnvironmentConservation/WastePrevention/CompostingAtHomeGuide.pdf