Can large, hard pits go in your worm bin?
Large, hard fruit pits are allowed in the worm bin in principle, but fall into the ‘with caution’ category. They are made of woody material and are so hard and fibrous that the worms and microorganisms in a home worm bin can hardly break them down. They decompose extremely slowly and will likely remain as unchanged pits in your compost. Large pits can also hinder flow in the bin and obstruct the movement of the worms if they end up in the wrong place or if there are too many. They are not harmful but also do not produce compost.
How much large, hard pits can you add?
Add large, hard pits sparingly to your Bonter. It is better to avoid them entirely if you want your compost to be free of hard residues. If you do add them, be aware that they will not compost and will remain as pits. Add only one now and then and mix it well with the waste so as not to hinder flow. Due to the very slow (or absent) decomposition, there is no point in adding many.
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What to do instead? Alternatives & waste management
Since large, hard pits hardly compost in a worm bin, other methods are often better options. Large fruit pits can go on a traditional compost pile, where they can decompose over the long term (years!). Another option is to dispose of them with your Organic waste bin (if your municipality collects this) or to try germinating them into new plants; this can be a fun experiment. The residual waste bin is also an option, as they do not compost in a worm bin anyway.
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Tips for composting large pits
The most important tip is: be aware that large, hard fruit pits will not compost in your Bonter. They will remain as pits. You can choose not to add them at all and put them on a traditional compost pile, Organic waste bin, or try germinating them. If you do add them, do so sparingly and mix them well into the bin so they don’t hinder flow. Grinding them very finely (almost impossible without heavy industrial equipment) would theoretically promote decomposition, but is practically unfeasible for home use. The Bonter’s air filter is not relevant here, as pits do not cause odours.
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Frequently asked questions about composting large, hard pits
Can large, hard pits (avocado, peach) go in the worm bin?
Do large fruit pits decompose in the worm bin?
Will large pits remain visible in the compost?
Can large pits hinder the worm bin?
Is there a way to make pits compost faster?
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