QUESTION: Can you put butter in compost? We use butter on our potatoes and bread, and I wonder if that means we have to throw those things out instead of compost the leftover scraps? – Margaret B
ANSWER: Butter is a form of fat, and things like fats and grease should not be composted in general. (Neither should meat, fish, or dairy products. These items will stink up your composting area and also draw in pest animals.
However, a little bit of butter spread on a roll or potatoes with some butter on them probably won’t cause you a problem. But it’s better to refrain from tossing straight butter, whether melted or solid, or from adding large amounts of butter to your compost or you’ll end up with problems.