Wow, many of you have described why my yard was infested with rats, mice, squirrels and unwanted insects.
Until they moved and (in one case) died off my neighbor's poor backyard habits were attracting all the critters that attacked my plants and vegetables for years.
Composting is one thing, but what some of you described is something that wouldn't help you make friends if the neighbors lived close by.
Of course, as always, I could be wrong.