In article ,
says...

I couldn't even think about throwing away vegetable matter, and
everything goes in the compost bin.
However, we have rats nesting in it now, and although they don't really
bother me, as the bin is way up the garden, and we live very near to a
farm, and expect the odd little blighter, our rather posh next door
neighbour noticed them whilst sunbathing in her garden the other day,
and was mortified!!

She says she's not going to put up with rats, and has told us either to
get rid of the compost bin, or she will call the council out to us.

Is there any way of 'spoiling' fruit and veg waste before putting it
into the compost bin, so as not to attract rats, but that won't spoil
the compost?
I would be very grateful of some help.




--
19pandy56

If its a closed bin then the best way is to stop them getting in, they
will tunnel under so it requires a bit of effort to keep them out,
unhappilly for you its not just your rotting veg peelings etc they are
after but the worms and there is realy no way of excluding worms indeed
they help make the compost heap work.

We used to have regular "break ins" but these have stopped completely now
the grass snakes have taken to nesting in the bins!

Personally I would put poison down for the rats you have and secure the
bin against future occupancy - oh and shoot your neighbour!
--
Charlie Pridham, Gardening in Cornwall
www.roselandhouse.co.uk
Holders of national collections of Clematis viticella cultivars and
Lapageria rosea