What should I do if my plastic compost bin is crawling with wasps? Also, is it OK to add crab & mussel shells?

Question

I've had this green, plastic compost bin going for a couple of months, using it mainly for kitchen waste & then trying to balance that by adding paper. My husband's very thoughtfully activating it with urine. He also helped by dropping in some windfall apples which turned out to have wasps in them.

I didn't even realise until early this week when I saw a wasp in there. Earlier on today there were several of them both inside the bin out. I don't know why this is as it's one of those fully enclosed Dalek-shaped ones. You take the lid off, drop in the waste & then raise the slider at the bottom to shovel out the finished compost.

There's no opportunity for air-flow which I thought was meant to be important & it''s certainly not hot, just minging & full of creatures. The ants & flies didn't bother me but the wasps have got me scared to go out there. Last night a man told me to watch out they didn't build a nest! What should I do?

Also, I eat lots of shellfish. Is it OK to put the shells in the compost bin? Will prawn shells break down?

Answer 1

why dont u just use a normal bin like evryone else

Answer 2

You could smoke them out,they can bite if drowsy,or pour boiling water into the compost.Shellfish and prawns equal rats and mice.They will smell it a mile off.They don't break down either.The type of bin you have does have air flow.When it's full lift it off and turn the heap and put back on.This will ensure you get nice quality compost.Never put meat in.Fruit needs to be cut up first.Wet newspaper is great

Answer 3

Shells will break down. That is what sand at the beach is primarily made of is shells that have desintigrated.

As for the wasp problem, i would advise you to call an extermination company and ask them what to do. Especially if you do not want to use inorganic materials to kill them. There are sonic pest removal systems that work, but they are often pricey. Once you get rid of the critters, maybe get some screening sheets to place over the bin to prevent future infestation.

Answer 4

Get some wasp spray and kill the buggers before they sting you.

Answer 5

i don't know much about composting, but i do know wasps are bad. they have probably come to eat the fruit in there, which will get them drunk because it has been fermenting in there for a while.

Answer 6

Geesh.  I just went through a whole bees-in-the-mirrors-of-my-car thing a few weeks back...so I know what you're talking about.  You move quick and hope they don't catch you!

There are various foaming sprays you can get to get rid of them, but since this is your compost bin, that wouldn't be the best choice.

Sad to say but the apples have to go!  If they are still on the top, do what you can to scoop them out, bag them up and get rid of them.  There will be some air circulation holes or vents on the bin, and that's where the wasps are coming in, so you need to take out what's attracting them.

In the future either cut up and freeze fruit like that to go in only in the cooler months before the wasps are in full force, or, add it in, but mix well so it's under the surface.  It's less tempting that way.

I'm not sure about the shells, but gut instinct tells me that they won't degrade.

Good Luck.