Cotton Gin Trash as Compost Ingredient

[GlennT]

Gin trash is available in this (and many) area(s) free for the hauling. I've never been around it, but often noticed the huge piles behind the gins when driving by, and stopped to investigate last week. It's made up of cotton lint and fibers, leaves, stems, and hulls from the boll and has been decomposing since last year. It's relatively lightweight and I discovered that with sideplanks on my 16' trailer I can haul 12 yards. I've now got 36 yards piled up out back, less a couple of yards that I added to two compost piles.
When they were loading the trailer the loader-buckets full of the stuff were steaming so they appeared to be smoking! I thought it might be about to catch fire so I went over and felt it. Really hot, but just steam.
I've read the speculation before about chemicals used on cotton remaining in the gin trash so let's don't go there. I've decided that I'm going to try it and so far it looks great. I've also heard from others who use it with good reports. I'll certainly report back if there are any bad experiences.

[Dchall_San_Antonio]

Any chemicals should be decomposed in the heat. You're fine.

It sounds like you probably have about twice as much as Louisana law allows, however. I'll give you my address and you can drop off 12 yards at my place :D