Is Your Compost Truly Organic? Let’s Dig In

Say No to Factory Farm and Industrial Food Waste in Your Compost

Composting is the basis of organic farming, but the USDA Organic rules for what can be composted could definitely be improved. While OMRI-certified organic compost is commonly available, and is usually the best choice for most gardeners purchasing in store, it’s important to know what those labels mean. For those looking for even higher standards, such as biodynamic compost, check out the links below to trusted companies that specialize in these products.

Of course the best way to know what’s in your compost is to make it at home, if you haven’t already, here is information on how to start a compost pile to begin upcycling your food waste into rich, fertile soil.

The Good: No Toxic Sewage Sludge

The USDA Organic National Organic Program bans sewage sludge and that’s really important as sewage sludge fertilizer is the reason why so much farmland is contaminated with PFAS “forever chemicals.” If you’re buying bagged compost at a big-box store, make sure to avoid toxic sewage sludge by looking for the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) label.

The Bad: Factory Farm Waste

Animal manure and carcasses are traditional ingredients of great compost—but not when they come from factory farms! Unfortunately, the organic rules allow factory farm waste to be used as fertilizer, providing a revenue stream for this needlessly cruel food production system—and contaminating organic compost with antibiotics and other animal drugs!

The Ugly: Industrial Food Processing Waste

Food scraps and other plant materials also belong in compost—but not when they’re left over from the industrial processing of pesticide-drenched GMOs (genetically modified organisms) into oils, alcohol, and ethanol. The National Organic Program has been criticized for allowing these contaminated materials in organic fertilizer:

Corn steep liquor – Corn steep liquor is a by-product of the corn wet milling process where sulfurous acid is used to produce corn oil, cornmeal, cornstarch and high fructose corn syrup.

Soybean meal liquid fertilizer – Soybean meal is a by-product of soybean oil extraction. It’s high in nitrogen, making it a desirable organic fertilizer, but the industrial way to process it is with the chemical solvent hexane, a known neurotoxin.

Both corn and soy are genetically engineered to be soaked in herbicides and residues will show up in any fertilizers made from their byproducts.

These corn and soy byproducts are used in the water-soluble fertilizers that are the main tool of industrial organic producers like Driscoll’s that grow their fruits, greens, and veggies in plastic containers rather than in living soils. Follow this link to see what Driscoll’s plastic farms look like.

The Alternative: Biodynamic

Unlike USDA Organic, Biodynamic farms aren’t allowed to be the trash dump for waste from factory farms or industrially processed corn or soy. According to the Biodynamic Association:

“Biodynamic plants are grown in the ground in living soil, which provides a quality of health and nutrition not possible with chemical fertilizers or hydroponic growing. Biodynamic farms aspire to generate their own fertility through composting, integrating animals, cover cropping, and crop rotation. Composting brings animal manures, plant material, and soil into healthy relationship and transforms them into a potent source of strength and fertility for the farm organism. Integrating a diversity of animals helps cycle nutrients and provides manures that nurture the soil. Cover crops also contribute to on-farm fertility, adding plant diversity and bringing life and sensitivity to the soil through oxygen and nitrogen. Crop rotation helps balance the needs of each crop and enables a diversity of creative expression in the soil. Together, these practices reduce or eliminate the need for imported fertilizers and enable the farm to move toward equilibrium and resilience.”

Really, that’s how most of the independent organic farmers do it, too. It’s the industrial organic companies that are giving organic a bad name. But, until USDA Organic bans factory farm and industrial food processing waste, we encourage you to support Biodynamic brands and farms that are Demeter Certified.

Learn More: BuildASoil.com’s “Loyal To The Soil” Guide to Composts and Fertilizers

BuildASoil.com carries Demeter Certified Biodynamic Malibu Compost. Use the coupon code ORGANICCONSUMER to get 5% off your order of any BuildASoil.com product anytime–the coupon doesn’t expire. Plus, everytime you buy from BuildASoil.com, 15% will go back to the OCA, so this is a great way to support us! 

Take Action: Say No to Factory Farm and Industrial Food Waste in Your Compost