Homeowner distraught after discovering neighbor's shocking act: 'This got immediate attention from the police'

Composting is gaining popularity as more homeowners bring the practice into their lives.

However, one Redditor made it clear in a post on r/composting that problematic neighbors can get in the way of making the switch.

"Neighbor threw road salt on my compost," the title reads, with photo evidence attached.

Too much salt can effectively ruin a batch of compost.

"Can't believe I have to deal with this now," the original poster lamented in the caption.

Starting a compost bin is an easy way to limit food waste and save money on garden fertilizers. All it takes is collecting your meal scraps and other biodegradable materials in a container, and the microscopic world takes care of the rest.

Yet that process can be disrupted by a strong chemical addition, such as sodium chloride — also known as road salt.

Whether tossing the chemical into the compost bin was intentional or not, it did not sit well with the original poster. They wrote in the comments how they removed it as best they could and plan to relocate the bin until they can put in a fence. They even called a non-emergency law enforcement phone line.

"I live in a farming community," they explained. "This got immediate attention from the police."

The officers recommended trying to communicate better with the neighbor and to document any further incidents.

Do you compost your yard scraps? Yes 💯 No 🙅 I don't have a yard 🏠 I don't have a way to compost 🤷 Click your choice to see results and speak your mind.

Ornery neighbors have gotten in the way of people taking all sorts of eco-friendly steps like composting. These sticky situations show how sometimes it takes a village to make a change, from solar panels to vegetable gardens.

Conflicts usually start when people misunderstand each other, so direct and honest communication can be a real difference-maker.

Others on Reddit sympathized with the original poster's predicament.

"This behaviour will only escalate," one person warned. "If she continues, video footage is your only friend."

"Get some cameras," another agreed.

"Neighbors being a bit salty," someone else joked.

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