Preventing Maggots in Compost

Preventing Maggots in Compost

From the Comox Valley Echo, Tuesday 6 August 2013, Ask a Pro

Question: I saw a news story about maggots in some curbside pickup greenbins. What’s going on? Admiring some compost

Answer: Yes, that is a bit of a yuck issue. Happily it is easily controlled. Maggots are fly larvae and have about a 7 day life cycle. They are attracted to protein sources – meat and bones primarily – and thrive in warm weather. To get rid of them, you need to prevent access to the fly treats. For your greenbin, there are several strategies. Wrap meat in paper. Or freeze it first. Or cover with leaves or soil or even greens. Wash and dry the greenbin after each pickup. Larvae hatch in about 48 hours so it’s best to put the stinkies out just the day before pickup.

You can compost meat and bones in the metal Speedibin composter also. Just make sure that they are buried several inches into the compost. Flies won’t dig through two inches of browns or soil. But do not put meat and bones in plastic or open bins or you may have worse problems than harmless but icky maggots. We have found that compost worms love meat and fish scraps and the resulting compost is luxuriously fertile!

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7 comments

Worm farms produce worm castings which can give organic manure for our garden soil, plants as well as the potted plants of our home.

kizanworms

I have a backyard buried compost pit that I throw all kitchen scraps in with the purpose of reducing waste. No producing compost. I throw ALL waste from the kitchen into it. It is surrounded by heavy bricks and has a heavy steel lid so rodents are not a problem and smells aren’t until you open it. With my system would maggots be beneficial to help the reduction of waste and if so will they be attracted to it?

Because it is completely enclosed I really don’t care how gross it looks inside.

Ian

A compost pit is a great way to get rid of kitchen scraps! Yes, maggots are efficient composters and can reduce the pile surprisingly quickly. However, when they become flies, they can transport bacteria that are not good for humans such as salmonella and e.coli, since they are probably eating meat that has eaten meat. I think if it was me, I would fill the pit in frequently, plant over it and dig a new pit, rotating around the garden. The soil will become very rich.

Joyce

Well this is the first time I’ve done anything like this. I was thinking that I could shovel it out in the fall when the flies are dead.

I realize maggots are not desirable but because I’m just trying to reduce waste and they will help with that how would I attract them.

Ian

How fast is a compost pit at reducing and what helps to speed it up?

Ian

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