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Soil, Compost & Mulch

Is it safe to compost eggshells nowadays?

13 years ago

I was wondering, with all the current news about salmonella in eggs from that huge farm in Ohio, if it is safe to add any eggshells to your compost pile? Just in case they are harboring potential salmonella, and my pile is cold-composted, I don't do much except the occasional turning and watering, so it will not get hot enough to kill pathogens and all that good stuff.

Any thoughts, facts, etc?

Thanks.

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Comments (6)

borderbarb
13 years ago
If you ate the eggs the shells are from, and did not get sick, probably there is not a problem with contamination. But just to be safe, you might drop the shells in boiling water for a few minutes and then put them on your compost pile. Better yet, you might find a local source for your eggs where the hens are not kept in such small cages and are not fed food made from dead animals. [UGH!] By all means, ask your local grocer/manager if they buy local eggs. Even if they don't if enough people do that, it will indicate interest and may lead them to start buying more humanely raised eggs.
led_zep_rules
13 years ago
I only buy cage free eggs, or better yet, local eggs from neighbors when they have enough to spare. So this is one time when I can chuckle to myself and say "I'm safe" and not worry about salmonella in my egg shells. The only grocery stores I know of that don't carry cage free eggs are the budget chains like Aldi and Save-A-Lot. Jewel, Dominicks, Pick'n'Save, Sentry, Piggly Wiggle, Sendiks, Lena's, you name it, they all carry cage free eggs.

My favorite brand, when I can't get local eggs, is Phil's Farm Fresh Eggs. Reasonably priced and a trustworthy company. I don't trust the big companies that sell a lot of the regular tortured chicken eggs and then also sell some cage free eggs. Their practices, although technically cage free, are sometimes quite suspect.

Marcia
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Heating it would probably work, so long as you don't overheat and cook it. But, it would also really sterilize the works, liking leaving you with no life in it at all (including cooked nigthtcrawlers). That's okay - commercial growers sterilize their potting mixes all the time - just realize what you have when your done, sterile compost. An alternative to your tank cooker -- solarize it under clear plastic in full sun; you could even put a dial/probe thermometer in through the plastic to check temp. It would probably work best if you spread it out a bit - say a 3-4 inch layer, cover it with clear plastic, put stuff along the edges to "seal it", and let the sun do the work. If the batch is small enough (10 gal should be) you may be able to put it in a large clear plastic bag (think garbage), seal up the top, then lay it on its side and even it out to a fairly flat layer. You could also turn the bag over on alternate days to get it heated from both sides. After it's "cooked" throw in a handful of good, clean,active garden soil taken from the top inch, mix it well, and let it incubate for a week or so. That will restore the life. Maybe pt03 will see this and comment. He makes compost big-time, and I think he even has a sterilizer. He would know better than anyone else here.
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curt_grow
13 years ago
As I recall the size of the farm has little to do with salmonella. I have raised chickens and ducks and it is a part of the digestive system of birds. the only answer is to handle eggs and meat with careful hygiene practices. Of course if a bird has internal problems ??? Well you get the idea. I compost birds and egg shells. If you are not sure about salmonella then trash the eggs and do not worry, it's not worth it.

Curt
phytolacca
13 years ago
peebee1, I'm gonna let you in on a secret: birds poop on your garden all day long while you're not looking-- and you don't know where they've been! Wash your produce before you prepare it and wash your hands after you've been gardening, and you'll be ok.

Here is a link that might be useful: wild birds and salmonella
thecompostnerd
13 years ago
I wouldn't be worried about it. There's plenty of contaminants to worry about, but if you're following simple hygiene practices you should be fine. At the same time, if you're actually feeling uncomfortable, don't put them in.
Kimmsr
13 years ago
Salmonella is a bacterium that is found in the feces, manure, poop, etc. of warm blooded animals including humans. Not only could it be found on the egg shells of those factory farms but it can be found on the egg shells from your neighboring farm, if simple cleanliness procedures are not followed. Does this mean we cannot compost any egg shells? No, just be sure handling is done with care and if necessary wash the eggs you have before use (putting egg shells in boiling water after opening will do nothing to protect you and yours from potential disease, that step is kind of late) and that should be enough.

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