Comments on: Is My Worm Bin On Fire? https://www.redwormcomposting.com/reader-questions/is-my-worm-bin-on-fire/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=is-my-worm-bin-on-fire WAY Too Much Fun With Worms! Tue, 29 Sep 2009 18:57:28 +0000 hourly 1 By: Bentley https://www.redwormcomposting.com/reader-questions/is-my-worm-bin-on-fire/comment-page-1/#comment-22507 Tue, 29 Sep 2009 18:57:28 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/?p=1240#comment-22507 HARLENE – based on your description of what you did, I would definitely assume that any stinky smell would be the result of food waste going anaerobic. I’ve never encountered ‘stinky tire’ myself (haha), but perhaps it is a result of the particular mix of wastes you have.

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NATHANAEL – thanks for sharing. I would guess that your hunches are right on the money. It’s ALL about aerobic microbial activity – so if you provide the right combination of c-rich and n-rich materials, moisture, oxygen and accessibility (surface area – shredding increases this), you are more than likely going to end up with some heating. Especially if you have a lot of material!

]]> By: Nathanael https://www.redwormcomposting.com/reader-questions/is-my-worm-bin-on-fire/comment-page-1/#comment-22500 Mon, 28 Sep 2009 15:07:35 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/?p=1240#comment-22500 Hi Bentley
I have not experienced burning but I have had problems with the food waste getting hot (100-110 F). It usually happens a day after I have added some food waste that I have been storing in a sealed 5 gallon container. I am guessing that it is because the waste is shifting from aerobic to anaerobic decomposition.
In addition, it happens inside the bin if I add food waste from my juicer. I think this is because the finely shredded scraps quickly start to decompose. The worms will crawl up the sides of the bin for a few days and sometimes I put ice cubes inside the bin to cool things down. Eventually things settle down and the worms seem happy to have plenty of food to eat!
Nathanael

]]> By: Harlene geier https://www.redwormcomposting.com/reader-questions/is-my-worm-bin-on-fire/comment-page-1/#comment-22481 Sat, 26 Sep 2009 13:06:44 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/?p=1240#comment-22481 Hey bentley,
just thought I say hi & ask a quick question.
That article on the bin looking like it caught fire was
interesting. That makes me wonder if maybe something
similar might be going on with my small bag of composting
food that I have saved for my worms. Two weeks ago I put
a few tomatoes in with others stuff to compost, I have since
then given it to my worms & started another batch, but
I have started to notice a burning tire smell coming from
the bag? Do you think to little oxegen is the cause? Harley.

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