slug and pest eggs in compost?

[Superh]

I've been a bit lazy and left collecting leaves for the pile a bit late. They are in a very big damp pile right now.

I was wondering if i should add them or not? I think they may have lots of slug eggs and other pests inside them. I don#t want to bring them into my garden if i can help it.

I understand the heat should kill them, but my 4x2x2 bin doesn't seem to be heating up at all. I don't think i have enough inside it though. it's nowhere near full.

thanks

[rustylady]

"pests" and slugs do no harm in a compost heap. Either add your leaves to your compost heap, or put them in strong bags. They'll make superb leaf mould.

[arpoet]

If in Doubt, steam them before adding to the compost heap

[Two_Sheds]

Your compost bin won't be heating up in the winter. It's too cold

Leaves will slow down your compost even further: they have a different kind of decomposition, they don't heat up, and they're unlikely to have slug eggs in them (slugs lay under soil, not on leaves).

As Rusty says, slugs aren't a pest inside the compost anyway: being detritivores, they're actually beneficial to the process.

I think AR Poet is pulling your leg about the steam.
If he's not, I wouldn't steam or heat the leaves, because that would kill the very bacteria that are needed to decompose the leaves.

Factsheet about making leafmould