Troubleshooting Composting Problems

Troubleshooting Compost Problems

Symptom Problem Solution

Pile is wet and smells like a mixture of rancid butter, vinegar, and rotten eggs

Not enough air

Or too much nitrogen

Or too wet

Turn pile

Mix in straw, sawdust, or wood chips

Turn pile and add straw, sawdust, or wood chips; provide drainage

Pile does not heat up
Pile is too small

Or pile is too dry

Make pile larger or provide insulation

Add water while turning the pile

Pile is damp and sweet smelling but will not heat up Not enough nitrogen Mix in grass clippings, food scraps, or other sources of nitrogen

Pile is attracting animals
Meat and other animal products have been included

Or food scraps are not well covered

Keep meat and other animal products out of the pile; enclose pile in 1/4-inch hardware cloth

Cover all food with brown materials such as leaves, wood chips, or finished compost

Symptom	Problem	Solution
Pile is wet and smells like a mixture of rancid butter, vinegar, and rotten eggs	Not enough air Or too much nitrogen Or too wet	Turn pile Mix in straw, sawdust, or wood chips Turn pile and add straw, sawdust, or wood chips; provide drainage
Pile does not heat up	Pile is too small Or pile is too dry	Make pile larger or provide insulation Add water while turning the pile
Pile is damp and sweet smelling but will not heat up	Not enough nitrogen	Mix in grass clippings, food scraps, or other sources of nitrogen
Pile is attracting animals	Meat and other animal products have been included Or food scraps are not well covered	Keep meat and other animal products out of the pile; enclose pile in 1/4-inch hardware cloth Cover all food with brown materials such as leaves, wood chips, or finished compost


Cornell Composting	Science & Engineering	Composting in Schools	Resources

Credits

Cornell Waste Management Institute ©1996
Department of Crop and Soil Sciences
Bradfield Hall, Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 14853
607-255-1187
cwmi@cornell.edu