Anybody that has a composting bin or compost pile at their house knows that old apple cores, banana peels and potato skins can be composted. But many people who compost at home are unaware of the sheer vastness of every day waste that can easily be thrown in their compost bin.
For example, did you know that you can compost an old tea bag? Old spices? Pencil shavings? How about sticky notes? Yes, each of those items can be composted!
In fact, there are many items that you can compost, and the following list will get you started with the first ninety-nine. And the best news? If everyone began to compost at home on a regular basis, the world’s landfills would be drastically reduced.
The Basics:
- All organic vegetable and fruit matter including rinds, skins, shells, seeds, cores and peels
- Old leaves & hay
- Used coffee grounds
- Paper coffee filters
- Grass clippings
- Egg shells
Unique Every Day Items
- Tea bags
- Peat moss
- Tree bark
- Old flowers
- Garden soil
- Old top soil
- Old bread
- Wheat bran
- Cooked grains
- Olive pits
- Pencil shavings
- Dust bunnies
- Toothpicks
- Business cards (Paper)
- Natural wine corks
- Toilet paper rolls
- Wrapping paper rolls
- Old loose leaf tea leaves
- Dried brown garden weeds (avoid composting weeds that go to seed)
- Spices and herbs that have lost their smell
- Nut shells (except walnut shells, which contain a chemical that can be toxic to plants)
- Wood chips and sawdust
- Soy products
- Wine and beer-making wastes
- Old dry cereals, crackers, chips, cookies, etc.
- 100% cotton swabs and Q-tips (do not compost plastic sticks)
- Wood fire ashes from grill or fire-place (also from smoking fish and other meats)
- Dirt in soles of shoes
- Facial tissues (unless soiled with chemical products)
- Old milk, ice cream, cream, etc. (in limited amounts)
- 100% cotton clothing (ripped into small pieces)
- 100% wool clothing (ripped into small pieces)
- Raffia decorations
- Crepe paper streamers
- Broken-down cereal boxes
- Natural wreaths, garlands and other natural holiday decor
- Chopped up Christmas trees
- Used Fabric sheets from the dryer
Non-Organic Compostable Items
- Paper bags (ripped into smaller pieces)
- Old Post-it Notes
- Any form of paper that has been soiled by food
- Pizza boxes (make sure to break them down into small pieces)
- Shredded newspapers
- Used paper plates without wax coatings
- Old mail and bills (make sure not to compost envelopes with the plastic windows)
- Paper or wood-based matches
- Animal manure and droppings
- Paper towels and towel rolls
- Leather belts, shoes, wallets, gloves (best if the leather is fairly old, as it will degrade slowly)
- Elmer’s glue
- Used masking tape
- Jell-O (gelatin)
- Paper muffin and cupcake cups
- Cage cleanings from small pets such as Guinea pigs, rabbits, birds and iguanas
- Labels
- Price tags
- Stale candy (remove wrapper, of course!)
- Cardboard and paper egg cartons
- Cardboard tampon applicators
- The boxes that surround many forms of cheeses
- Pure cellophane bags
- Paper Envelopes from your mail (Shredded up)
- Shredded catalogs and magazines (unless they have a very waxy cover)
- Chewing gum
Weird Stuff You Can Compost
- Feathers
- Old rope
- Stale catnip
- Dryer lint
- Dead houseplants
- Star fish (dead)
- Old Halloween pumpkins
- Electric razor trimmings
- Finger and toe nail clippings
- Hair – Both human and animal hair is compostable
- Ground bone and blood meal
- Old rawhide dog chews
- Old dog/cat foods
- Small pets that have died, like goldfish (Not recommended, but possible.)
- Urine (although can be quite smelly in the summer sun)
- Old cheeses
- Latex condoms and balloons
- Old beer, wine and liquor
- Crustacean shells (shrimp, crab, lobster, etc.)
- Tobacco wastes
- Bamboo products
- Old fish food
- Sheepskin condoms
- Shower loofahs (made from natural materials, such as sea sponge)
- Vacuum cleaner bag waste
- Granite dust
- Dolomite lime
- Liquid from canned fruits and vegetables
- Pure soap scraps
Do you compost at home? Can you think of some other items you can compost? If I missed anything, please let me know in the comments below.
SOURCE: http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/99-items-you-can-compost/
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