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10 things you never thought to compost

Composting is a great way to differ tons of organic waste from landfills. Most people know to compost food scraps, grass and flowers, but did you know there is so much more that can be composted?

Take a look at my 10 11 things you never thought to compost:

  • Just brushed your hair or your pet’s coat? Human and pet hair are rich in nitrogen and can be great adds to your composting bin. As a bonus, they might even deter little critters.
  • Instead of throwing your polish-free nail clippings or your pet’s nails into the trash, consider adding them to your composting pile or bin.
  • Not sure if this is a myth or not, but I have heard it happens; leftover beer and wine. If this has happened to you, don’t fret. Beer and wine can kick-start bacteria in your composting pile.
  • There are companies that upcycle wine corks into soles of shoes or floors. But if this does not seem like a viable option for you, try composting them instead of discarding them in the trash.
  • If you are not drying your clothing on the clothes line or clothing rack, please add your dryer lint to your composting.
  • I was wondering just the other day as I was cleaning my ears with a cotton swab if there was a way to divert my ear cleaner from ending in the trash? And it looks like there is. Composting; as long as the handle is made of cardboard and not plastic. YAY!
  • I hate to vacuum and I avoid this chore like the plague. But when it has to be done think about adding the vacuum remains to your compost. This can also apply to sweeping, which is my preferred chore over vacuuming.
  • Left sitting on the toilet staring at a toilet paper roll? Get a new one and toss the left over one in the composting bin. Paper towels rolls can composted as well.
  • What to do with your cardboard egg carton after the eggs are all gone? Either return it to the farmersmarket to be reused or add it to your bin or pile.
  • Adding fireplace ashes can help reduce the acidity in your compost pile or bin when used correctly.
  • Natural-fibre rags eventually become unusable. Wash them up without fabric softener or harsh chemical soap and add them to your compost.

What will you add to your composting bin? Any interesting things that you compost?

Sources: Earth 911 and WebEcoist

Reader Interactions

Comments

  3. really? pet hair? I didn’t know that either, our lab sheds a lot!
    I find egg shells are really hard to break down and you usually see a lot of shell in your soil. maybe not if you finely crush them first. same with corn cobs, they are always left in there too.

  8. Checkout the link I added for the fireplace ash. You can’t just throw it all in the compost…there is more to it. For the vacuum waste, I mean if you have big chunks of plastic maybe don’t put that in the compost. Just use your own judgement. 🙂

  12. That’s a great list! I recycle egg cartons and toilet paper rolls etc. but never thought of putting these things in the compost – makes perfect sense! Hair and nails … learned something new today 😉

  13. I like to put eggshells, and coffee grinds in my compost, along with lemon rinds, really any rinds – watermelon, cantaloupe. The butterflies LOVE to feast on these while they are waiting to decompose.

  18. WOW! Crazy list of never before thought of things to compost. I am going to spread the word to my friends…I cant believe some of them. Thank you SO much for the info.
    And than you for the good you are doing through your blog.
    Awesome.

    jenny at dapperhouse

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