Does decomposing meat produce methane gas?

[Deleted]

Just something my Mom and I have been wondering lately.

I throw out any leftover ferret meat/bones in a sealed garbage can in my room (I even tie off the meat in those little biodegradable doggie poop bags you can get at the dollar store for cheap to keep the smell down). But whenever I go to take the garbage outside, if my mom doesn't know what I'm doing she always thinks there's a gas leak - and it sure does reak if I don't take it out every couple days!

It was funny too because a few weeks ago we were out on the back deck and we BOTH thought the barbeque was leaking propane but then figured out the smell was coming from our garabage bin (which we keep in the backyard when it's not out in the back alley for collection) and which had a bunch of old ferret garbage in it.

So does decomposing meat actually produce some sort of gas (methane?)? Or are we just crazy? ;D

[shilohismygirl]

It would make sense, considering I've thrown out chicken that smelled like a basket of farts(for lack of better description).

[melcab]

I'm assuming the bacteria feasting on it produce gasses and there's no denying that rotting meat stinks big time, but if the gas is actually methane I have no idea. Are you wondering whether your garbage is going to spontaneously combust or something?

[Deleted]

;D well I'm not going to lie the thought has crossed my mind. We have these black garbage bins were required to put the garbage out in and it gets really hot inside of them when the black absorbs the summer heat.

But I was more wondering if it's safe to breathe it or if I should make an effort to put it outside right away

[Deleted]

Quick search on google revealed this:

"I should warn about one hidden and rather strange hazard: no compost heaps should be near the digester, at least not if the compost contains animal remains. Rotting meat gives off the gas phosphine. And if phosphine blends with methane and oxygen, the mixture bursts into flame like a sudden demon. This goes on all the time in marshes. Rotting animals provide the phosphine, the marsh provides the methane, and lonely walkers are provided with will-o'-the-wisps."

[Sherry]

I've been tossing the stashes in the dumpster for over 3 years, and we've not had that happen yet ;D

[Deleted]

Huh, that's interesting Jackie. I'll try not to worry about it too much. I always tie the meat in bags, and if there's no oxygen getting at it there's no combustion. Plus in a sealed dumpster, it would just burn itself out, no oxygen to fuel the fire.

At least that's my logic!