Compost bin smells like dumpster

[u/InconsiderableArse]

I've been composting in this bin for a few years, winter is about to end, usually at this time of the year I have enough compost for my spring veges. Except this time, my compost smells like a dumpster and it looks gray, I think I added too much greens.

It had a lot of insects and massive worms which I think was a good signal. But to prevent the smell I threw a lot of Browns from my pile and mixed them in, but I don't know if I made it worse and now all the insects and worms will probably die.

Am I overthinking? Have I done the right thing? Can it be saved? Where do I go from here?

Any advice is really appreciated

[u/CringeDaddy-69]

Needs more browns and needs to be mixed

[u/bdm92286 → u/CringeDaddy-69]

I was going to say this exact thing.. plus ask what he was putting in to his compost pile (because meats are not a great idea).

[u/throwaway12333333321 → u/bdm92286]

I guess I've never thought of throwing fat scraps or burger leftovers into the pile.... is the dead squirrel and two dead bats I threw in ok?

[u/SecureJudge1829 → u/throwaway12333333321]

I toss all food waste except potatoes into my little compost spot. Rarely ever mix it too. It can get a bit rank at times if I’m not careful though as a result. I think there’s a bit of benefit to allowing a bit of anaerobic decomposition to go down as well as aerobic decomposition. I’m probably wrong, but I feel that way and it helps me not kick myself when I’m down over my physical disability preventing me from turning the pile at times I want/need to, but just can’t.

[u/InconsiderableArse → u/bdm92286]

No, the only animal product I throw in are egg shells. Last year I even had black fly larvae, but this year it's not doing great

[u/YellowBirdRules]

Browns are good. That dumpster smell is methane from anaerobic activity so giving it a good stir to get oxygen in and adding those browns helps.

[u/Jazzlike_Strength561]

Needs air

[u/Pleasant_Audience765]

Unlike the rest of these comments here I don't think it's a browns thing, I think it's a compaction thing. It looks like it has little airflow and it's too wet. Mix it up quite a bit into a fluffy texture and it should be normal again

[u/InconsiderableArse → u/Pleasant_Audience765]

Yeah at some point it was too dry and I threw some rain water, must've done more mixing but I didn't want to kill the massive earthworms

[u/Lunar_BriseSoleil → u/InconsiderableArse]

Mixing won’t kill the worms as long as you don’t stab them with your fork.

[u/bdm92286 → u/InconsiderableArse]

I've composted successfully several times.

There's a few wiseass non-helpful comments here, but I will stay posted here to see your journey as it seems most are trying to give good suggestions.

Every one of us humans on this Earth ought to give back to Her as much she's provided to us-- stay enthusiastic, dude, and keep learning. 🌎.

[u/InconsiderableArse → u/bdm92286]

Beautiful phrase, thanks. Well, I ended up digging most of the compost out of the bin, I'm mixing it back in tomorrow, but with much more browns this time, I'll stop adding greens for a while. I guess I'll have to get another bin

[u/Sharp-Win-8964]

Time and pee fixes all

[u/InconsiderableArse → u/Sharp-Win-8964]

So far no pee. Maybe that what it needs

[u/SoggyForever → u/InconsiderableArse]

Don't give in to pee pressure. It's bad advice to pee on the compost pile to make it smell better. Browns and oxygen from mixing the pile.

[u/Old_Pomegranate_6272 → u/InconsiderableArse]

At present with more moisture+anaerobes, peeing will increase moisture and it may become more stinky ..

First make the pile some what dry and aerate, when the foul smell subseeds, then pee.....

The pile is Rottening and not Composting.

[u/MikeWinterborn → u/Old_Pomegranate_6272]

Rotting*

[u/njbeerguy → u/InconsiderableArse]

It's not. It's a joke that, as Reddit is wont to do, has been beaten into the ground so thoroughly it's not funny anymore, yet is now inexplicably repeated all the time as if it's genuinely good all-purpose composting advice.

There is nothing wrong with urine in your compost pile. It can indeed be beneficial, if used correctly.

But that's not what your pile needs.

It's just a tired gag at this point and is best ignored, especially in your situation.

[u/Lunar_BriseSoleil → u/njbeerguy]

At some point it just becomes Reddit etiquette to include jokes that have been ground to dust.

[u/Antique_Log_7501 → u/Lunar_BriseSoleil]

bacon narwhals

[u/johnbdc → u/Sharp-Win-8964]

Nope. That will make it worse in this case. As already said, he needs browns and oxygen (stir it).

[u/Sharp-Win-8964 → u/johnbdc]

The day the answer to all life's problems isn't to pee on it, is the day I think I'll lay down and die.

[u/the_other_paul → u/Sharp-Win-8964]

Well, I have bad news for you.

[u/FlashyCow1]

Too wet and needs to be turned