Can I compost food with PESTICIDES or plant matter with HERBICIDE residues?
Pesticides and herbicides will eventually break down, but some are persistent for quite a while before decomposing. They can also leach out of the pile and contaminate groundwater, so its best to not use them in the first place! But if you do have small amounts in your pile, just make sure you get high temperatures and let it compost for at least a year before applying to soil. There are differing opinions on this matter, but we recommend trying to avoid having those chemicals in your pile.
