Bokashi Composting For Dog Scraps?

[Fizgig]

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Hi all! I've been lurking lately, and haven't posted in ages. But I have a question related to bokashi composters (they ferment instead of rot) since they are rarely used here in the USA. Hopefully I can call on your collective international wisdom!

I'm debating getting a Bokashi bucket for kitchen scraps, but secretly really want to use it for all the mostly-gnawed dog treats and bones I accumulate (because the dogs eat most of my table scraps anyway!). Some websites say I can toss in bones, but some say I can't. Then there are the nubs of bully-sticks, rawhides, and such that I usually throw away...

Does anyone here have experience with bokashi-ing dog bones? I'm talking knuckle bones, neck bones, kneecaps, and maybe even marrow and recreational bones. Leftover meat? How about meat that's been warm for a little while but isn't stinky (I feed raw, and sometimes have leftovers)? I'd love to try bokashi, but want to know beforehand if I can toss in all the whippet leavings. I'm planning on adding the bokashi to a regular compost bin after it ferments, so I'm OK if the bones aren't broken down completely--I just don't want to ruin the balance of either the bokashi or the regular compost bin.

Can anyone help me out with advice? Thanks!

Rachel, trying to be green!

 

[Fizgig]

Aaah well, I knew it was a somewhat obscure question!

For anyone interested, here is a link to some info on bokashi bins and composting...it seems like technology worth trying if I'm aiming to reduce the waste I send off with the trashman. Guess I'll experiment a bit with the bones (always amusing to experiment!) when my bin comes.

http://kitchengardenfoods.com/2006/02/20/bokashi/

Rachel

 

[urchin]

It's not something I've heard of before fizgig - but being a manic composter and recycler I will be looking into these very soon.

Wondering if you've come across these Dog Poo Composter Yet another raw material I have aplenty and would like to keep out of my rubbish bin!

 

[Jessr123]

It's not something I've heard of before fizgig - but being a manic composter and recycler I will be looking into these very soon.
Wondering if you've come across these Dog Poo Composter Yet another raw material I have aplenty and would like to keep out of my rubbish bin!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

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Dog poo composters don't seem to work too well as dogs tend to produce so much muck they fill the thing up faster than it degrades.

 

[urchin]

2 dog poo composters????

 

[~elizabeth~]

Does anyone here have experience with bokashi-ing dog bones?  I'm talking knuckle bones, neck bones, kneecaps, and maybe even marrow and recreational bones.  Leftover meat? How about meat that's been warm for a little while but isn't stinky (I feed raw, and sometimes have leftovers)?  I'd love to try bokashi, but want to know beforehand if I can toss in all the whippet leavings.  I'm planning on adding the bokashi to a regular compost bin after it ferments, so I'm OK if the bones aren't broken down completely--I just don't want to ruin the balance of either the bokashi or the regular compost bin. 

Although it is possible to compost dead animal matter of various kinds it's probably not that easy to do safely with anything other than very tiny bones, as they really don't break down very well. There is also a concern about botulism, as there is a chance with a larger bone that the bacteria might survive in the bone if not broken down.

This is a slightly stomach churning link re. composting dead birds in the poultry industry :x but it does cover some of the issues involved re. composting dead animal matter:

Composting dead birds

Re. dog crap compost, I notice the manufacturers suggest the end product shouldn't be used in areas where children play, I guess this is because the composting process doesn't remove the risk from transmitting parasites ? :unsure:

 

[urchin]

i think worms are the main concern elizabeth - but if your dogs wormers are up to date

i cant see that its any more of a problem than your dogs using the back garden for their business then picking up after them

 

[Macha]

I do sometimes use old dried up bones to help fertilise my plants.

I haven't looked at the sites linked to this page, but I have used compost heaps and plastic composter cones for vegetable, fruit, garden scraps -- was always advised not to compost animal matter (bread, dairy, meat) as it is likely to attract rats to the compost