[Christine]

You know the big thick bit left when you have cut everything else that will compost easily off? What to do with them? I know they won't compost on the heap in the regular way of things so how to destroy?

I don't have any great items to burn so that's not really a route to go down. Not feeling energetic enough to beat them to pulp often.

It's just that I have the left overs from the calabrese I moved yesterday and wonder what to do about them. Ideas?

[DD.]

Dig a trench & bury them. They'll eventually compost down.

[Christine]

I thought I had heard that one somewhere but decided to check. Could well be the trench at some point then. 

[tode]

My handy gardening book tells you to bash em on a tree stump with a hammer or the back of an axe 
But Ive never done it myself.
Not sure which is less work, the bashing or the digging 

[Christine]

I'm ever so good at digging and have no experience in bashing. 

[tode]

Well then, bashing it is    New experience 

[DD.]

Do both.

Start next year's bean trench, bash the stalks & throw them in. Put your manure on top of them.

[tode]

That sounds like double the work      

[Christine]

Double double work 
1. Dig
2. Bash
3. Throw
4. Add manure

[tode]

Haha. Very good. Sounds like a summing-up of life in the garden   

[senrab_nhoj]

I machete them up prior to putting them anywhere.....

[Chappers]

I bought a small 2nd hand garden shredder which is perfect for just that, i shred all tough stuff b4 it goes in the compost. Worth getting one if you have the room for it.

Paul

[tode]

Paul: petrol or electric? I thought of getting one, but wasn't sure it was worth the hassle.
I do get fed up with snipping with secateurs though.

[realfood]

I always burn them along with the roots so as to prevent any transfer of clubroot, not that I have any. Let them dry in the sun and they will burn quite easily.

[DD.]

The OP said that burning was not a route to go down, hence the discussion about alternatives.