8 Comments
User's avatar
Kate Brown's avatar

That is correct, Lee. If night soil is not composted (and this is the same with raw cow, pig and chicken manure which is dumped by the tons onto farm fields), there is a danger of bad bacteria getting onto your food. Compost piles heat to over 160 degrees and that kills the pathogens.

Margaret Tomlinson's avatar

Compost piles sometimes heat to over 160 degrees, but they must be managed in specific ways to do that.

Martin Blaser's avatar

Very instructive, as always!

Kate Brown's avatar

Best to compost for a year.

Kate Brown's avatar

It really depends on what the dog eats, but it too can go in the compost bin.

Lee Gould's avatar

Here in Mexico, I thought the reason we had to disinfect all our vegetables was because night-soil was used as fertilizer. Can you comment, please?

Elizabeth Marston's avatar

Great article! How about dog poop? It is not allowed in the compost?

Kate Brown's avatar

Throw it in! If the dog eats well.