I’m a huge fan of composting. Not only is it a great way to reduce your food waste, it also nourishes your garden, and cuts down on your overall carbon footprint. As we love being eco-friendly, there’s alway room to discover more compostable items you probably weren’t even aware of. I’m sure you already compost the usuals; coffee grounds, tea leaves, and fruit & vegetable scraps, but what if I told you there’s more you can add to your compost heap? Things you may not have even thought of?
Let’s check out the items you many not know about and help you create what’s known as “black gold” the nutrient-rich soil for backyard composters and avid compost enthusiasts alike.
1. Pet Hair and Human Hair
Brits are known to be pet lovers so if you have a pet, or you remove hair from your hair brush, don’t throw that hair away! Both human hair and pet hair are make up of organic matter, which means they will break down during the decomposition process. Many people don’t realise that hair is a nitrogen-rich material, which I refer to a good “green’ and a great addition to your garden composting system. As a pet owner, you are probably used to seeing pet hair everywhere and have tools to remove it from your furniture. Simply pop them into your compost bin. Voila!
2. Tea Bags
Most of us are aware that we can compost tea bags but not all tea bags are made equal. Some are made from plastic fibres and the chances of them breaking down completely is quite slim. I remember watching a documentary a few years back to see how tea bags from various brands break down. Many of which left a plastic ‘skeleton’ of the bag. Hardly eco friendly! If you opt for loose leaf tea, this won’t be an issue but check your tea bags can actually be composted, by ensuring they’re made from natural fibres like cotton or hemp.
3. Nail Clippings
When you clip your nails, what do you do with them? Do you just pop them in the bin? Yes, you can compost them. They are organic matter and consist of keratin, which is a protein that breaks down over time. This will also provide nitrogen to your compost, which is valuable. Chop them up into smaller pieces to help accelerate decomposition. If you have nail polish, it’s a good idea to remove the nail polish before clipping your nails.
4. Dryer Lint
This is a great one if you wear clothes that are made of natural fabrics like cotton, wool, or linen. Synthetic materials like polyester won’t decompose, so if your clothes are made from synthetic materials, it’s best to skip this one. If you have dyer lint from natural clothes, they will break down nicely.
5. Natural Wine Corks
If you’re a wine drinker, this one if for your! natural wine corks are composable! These corks are usually made from the bark of an oak tree, which is a renewable and biodegradable resource. All you need to do is break them down into small pieces to help them break down quicker. I’ve noticed that some corks are made from plastic, please don’t pop these into your compost. These natural materials are an excellent addition to your compost heap, adding a little variety to your usual food scraps and garden waste. The way you tell the difference is that the natural one will fall apart and crumble with a little force, the plastic one won’t
6. Old Herbs and Stale Bread
Have you got some old herbs or stale bread? Don’t bin them. They’re both great for composting. Herbs that have lost their potency still provide organic materials and nutrients to your compost. Stale bread can be composted in small amounts so remember to break them up into small pieces to help speed up decomposition. Avoid putting whole slices or even whole loaves int he compost, as large quantities could attract pests and no one wants that.
I remember finding herbs that were three years out of date when we were moving house – whoops!
7. Egg Shells
During the spring I tend to break up egg shells and scatter them around things I’m trying to grow. Snails and slugs find it uncomfortable moving on them so my sunflowers are able to grow. If you don’t use them for plants, you can certainly compost them. They’re a fantastic source of calcium. Rinse the egg shells and crush them into small pieces before throwing them into your compost heap. I crush them into small pieces because they do take longer to decompose that other food matter.
8. Cotton Balls and Natural Fabrics
If you have some cotton buds or cotton balls, pop them in the compost as they’re made from natural fibres. Make sure you avoid plastic ones or ones with synthetic coatings. You can also compost bamboo skewers and wooden cutlery you can sometimes get from takeaways and even wooden ice lolly sticks. These will be carbon-rich materials and balance out your green materials like grass clippings and vegetable peels.
9. Shredded Paper
If you have a shredder at home, you can use this shredded paper in your compost which is a great carbon-rich addition to your compost pile. Just make sure the paper you shred is paper and isn’t coated with any plastic. Also, supermarket receipts are made from thermal paper and can’t be added to your compost.
10. Paper Bags, Pizza Boxes, and Paper Coffee Filters
Did you know your used pizza boxes and paper bags can be composted? As long as they’re not covered in grease or food residue, they make a great addition to your compost. Even paper coffee filters can be tossed in, contributing to the balance of brown material that helps the compost breathe. Tearing them into small pieces helps them break down faster, improving the soil structure of your final compost.
Bonus Tips for a Healthy Compost Pile
As someone who has been composting for a while, here are few tips I’ve learned from making my own mistakes to ensure your composting process is effective:
- Balance your greens and browns – your compost will need a good balance of green materials like food waste, plants trimmings, and vegetable scraps, and brown materials like paper, wood chips, and garden waste like brown leaves. If you have too many greens, I found this leads to a strong smell, and too many browns will slow the process. It’s about finding a 50/50 mix for best results.
- Cutting into small pieces – The easiest way to speed up the decomposition process is to break things down into small pieces. This applies to everything as small bits break down much faster.
- Turning your compost – to ensure your compost breaks down evenly, you need to make sure you turn it regularly as oxygen helps with the process.
And there you have it – ten surprising items you probably didn’t know you could compost. Next time you’re clearing out old herbs, sweeping up pet hair, or finishing a bottle of wine, think about how those leftovers could be helping you grow healthier plants and reduce waste. Composting is not just a fantastic way to recycle organic materials, it’s an easy and fun way to reduce your carbon footprint and create nutrient-dense soil for your garden. So go ahead, toss that dryer lint and those paper bags into the compost, you’ll be amazed at what can grow from the scraps of daily life!
