Pesticides
Pesticides enter into organic residuals (e.g., a compost pile) when plant materials that have been treated are used as feedstocks.
While some pesticides (e.g., herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides) can break down during the composting process, there are many that cannot. The fewer pesticides are in a compost mixture, the more likely the microbes are to break them down.
- Learn more about persistent herbicides in compost at the US Composting Council - https://www.compostingcouncil.org/page/persistent-herbicides-faq
- Learn about ways to limit pesticide use through Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies - https://cals.cornell.edu/integrated-pest-management