Mollusc morals

Slug and snails in the compost bin - is it ethical?

Dear Anna

I put all my garden snails in the brown garden waste bin so they go to the composting plant.
It solves my problem without killing, as there's plenty in the bin for them to eat
But is it ethical - especially as some poor souls are likely to get compost full of snails' eggs.

Cheers
Brenda Boyd

Hi Brenda,

Good question, especially as you're asking the person that feels terribly guilty whenever she even treads on a snail!

I too, put all the slugs and snails that I find into our compost bin and there is a disgusting bunch in there, slithering around and munching all my leftovers down as we speak.

Many gardeners worry that the compost bin encourages slug and snail reproductive activity, creating massive populations that will raid the garden and polish off their prized plants but slugs and snails are decomposer organisms that help break down the organic matter in the compost bin.

The compost bin acts as a great feeding ground for them. They may come out of the bin but generally, while they are munching away on your vegetable waste, have a constant food source and are protected from predators, they have no reason to leave and thankfully are not paying any attention to more important items in the garden.

Many gardening experts regard them as a natural part of the composting process.
Some people, as you have identified, worry that when they spread the finished compost, they will spread around slug and snail eggs; however, it is most likely that these will decompose as they become compressed within the heap or be killed off by the heat of the composting process.

One thing that may prevent the heat from killing off the eggs is the fact that the bin never gets hot enough, through constant opening of the lid to add more waste.

My gardening friends recommend spreading out the compost in the sunshine for a while before using it and letting the birds get at any eggs before they hatch. I was also warned to watch out for eggs laid around the top of the bin.

If it is going to the compost plant then it is highly likely that temperatures will reach the required level to kill them off.

In terms of is it ethical?- I think its as good as it can get for a snail or slug to be left in peace to chomp their way through rotting food till they die off naturally which can be up to 6 years for a fortunate one.

If they are off to the compost plant it is likely that they'll get squished and squashed in the composting process so it is debateable as to whether it's truly humane in the end.

If they are going to get killed in the end anyhow, you may wish to consider another process. Most gardeners I know swear by the 'beer method' as a humane way of seeing the slugs and snails off.

Simply fill a bowl or old tin with beer and put it flush to the ground. The molluscs get drunk as skunks, fall in and drown a happy death.

Their bodies and shells can be put into the compost bin. Shells in particular are very good as they are made of keratin, the same stuff as your nails, so although they will take a long time to decompose, they are high in trace minerals.

Finally, on no account should slug pellets or other molluscides/insecticides be used in compost, as they will kill the beneficial organisms that carry out the composting process.

Good luck
Anna
If readers have any other tips they should like to share then I'd love to hear them.

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