Why can't I decompose the stems🌿/ corn husks🌽/ onion skins🧅?Updated 2 hours ago

Stems 🌿/ Corn Husks🌽/ Onion Skins🧅

Stems, corn husks, and onion skins are high in cellulose, which takes considerably longer to break down than most food scraps. They aren't harmful to add, but they'll decompose much more slowly.

🌿Long stems (e.g., scallions, leafy stems):

Long stems can get tangled around the stirring rod during mixing, which may cause a malfunction. Please cut them into smaller pieces before adding them to Reencle.

🌽Corn husks & 🧅onion skins:

These are technically closer to general plant waste than typical food waste, since they're made up largely of cellulose and fibrous membrane — materials that break down much more slowly than soft food scraps. If added, they won't cause any harm, but they will gradually dry out, break into smaller pieces, and mix into the compost — taking considerably longer to fully decompose than other inputs.

💡 Simple rule of thumb: Most food that humans eat and digest can be decomposed by Reencle's microbes — but tougher, fibrous plant material like husks, skins, and long stems will take extra time.