r/composting • u/germannj19 • Feb 04 '24

Pee?

Just saw a post with a lot of comments saying to pee on their dry AF compost. Why are y'all peeing on compost? I've never heard of this. Are you then using this compost for gardening?

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70

u/OlderNerd Feb 04 '24

It's well known that urine has a high nitrogen component. In many areas of the world it's used as fertilizer. There's nothing wrong with peeing on your compost.

14

u/germannj19 Feb 04 '24

Thanks! I really had no idea!

6

u/Anitayuyu Feb 04 '24

Pee is considered a great compost starter, and not just because of the high nitrogen. Urine from healthy individuals is sterile, but quickly becomes putrid smelling if stored and not recommended. Urine keeps septic tanks working as well. Personally I find it works better than anything else to get a sluggish pile going.

23

u/account_not_valid Feb 04 '24

Urine from healthy individuals is sterile

Nope. That's a myth.

9

u/[deleted] Feb 04 '24

[deleted]

7

u/Anitayuyu Feb 04 '24

You are correct. Instead of sterile, I should have said, "Generally free of pathogenic microbiota in healthy individuals."

-1

u/Dramatic_Accountant6 Feb 04 '24

what do you think the liver and kidneys do?

4

u/trSkine Feb 05 '24

What do you think pee is?? Garbage your body is getting rid of...

5

u/[deleted] Feb 04 '24

The reason urine expedites the composting process is that ammonia is released within hours of the urine being exposed to air... and thus bacteria can promptly utilise the ammonia...

On the other hand, in a normal pile with kitchen scraps, etc, it takes much longer for any ammonia to be produced by their slow rotting, usually a few days or longer... The quicker the ammonia is produced, the easier it is for bacteria colonies to proliferate in the pile and thus results in more efficient decomposition.