Can I Compost Animal Bedding?

Looking for new, creative things to compost? The opportunities are endless, but one material you could consider is animal bedding. This could come from livestock like horses or goats, or much smaller critters like hamsters and rabbits.

If you want to compost animal bedding, there are some general guidelines to consider:

What type of animal do you have?

Some pets are better suited to have their bedding composted than others. Animal bedding will most likely contain manure. For carnivores, like a dog or a cat, avoid using their bedding as compost as it is more likely to harbor harmful bacteria that your compost pile may not get hot enough to address. 

If your pet is an herbivore, their manure is more compatible. Rabbit manure is a great addition to garden beds; it has just the right amount of nitrogen not to "burn" your plants, and you can even apply it directly to your garden bed without needing to be composted or aged. 

Backyard chicken bedding may also be a good option for your compost pile under the right conditions (read more about composting chicken manure here).  

What is the bedding made from?

Most bedding is likely either straw, wood shavings, wood pellets, or paper shreds (which yes, depending on your pet, you can absolutely use shredded paper for bedding!), but there are some options out there that are artificial and won’t be good for your compost. Avoid composting bedding that advertises itself as “extra absorbent,” has extra odor controlling properties, or has a sweet smell, as this may be an indicator that the bedding has ingredients that you won’t want in your compost.

What will you be using your compost for?

Adding manure to your compost will change the nutrient content. If you plan on applying your compost to a garden bed, make sure you give plenty of time for the compost to cure, and be sure that you are using the compost on plants that will appreciate all the extra nutrients to avoid oversaturation.

Additional Tips

Even though manure is brown, in your compost it should be considered a “green” because of its nitrogen content. Although the carbon rich bedding will help balance the manure out, you will still want to cover it with carbon-based “browns” like leaves or woodchips to avoid odors.

When handling manure of any kind, use best hygiene practices for safety: Always wash your hands after handling the compost or the manure. Give plenty of time for your compost to reach maximum temperature and to cure. And always wash fruits and vegetables before you eat them.

See more pet waste composting tips on our post: The Do's and Don'ts of Composting Pet Poo.