Composting is a great way to reduce trash and create rich soil to use in the garden. Here are 12 things you didn’t know you could add to your compost pile!
Here are things you can add to your compost pile. Besides Egg shells and coffee grounds and lawn clippings. I thought this would help you all that do the compost thing.
Tracy in Newark OH
Dryer lint.
If you must dry your clothes in an electric clothes dryer at
least compost the lint.
Hair and fur
Hair adds nitrogen and other beneficial nutrients to compost.
Fireplace ashes
Wood ashes contain potassium, a major plant nutrient that can
be beneficial depending on the soil type.
Cotton, wool, and silk clothing/fabric
Worn-out clothing made exclusively of natural fibers will
decompose faster if you shred them before composting.
Full vacuum cleaner bags
Paper vacuum cleaner bags and their contents — as well as
all species of non-synthetic debris — are welcome in the
compost pile.
Nail clippings
The byproducts of pedicures, manicures, and even pet nails
are all compostable, provided that they’re polish-free.
Rope and string
Rope and twine made out of natural fibers (e.g., cotton,
hemp, jute, and manila ropes) will decompose in the compost
pile.
Leather goods and clothing
Natural leather products will decompose (albeit slowly) in
the compost pile.
Cotton balls and Q-Tips
Just make sure that your cotton swabs like Q-Tips are 100%
cotton and have cardboard or wooden sticks (NOT plastic).
Seaweed/kelp
If you live on an ocean or other waterway and your shoreline
is being invaded by washed up seaweed or kelp, add it to the
compost pile.
Stale bread and other grain products
Leftover grain-based food products, including pasta, rice,
cereal, crackers, pizza crusts, etc., can be composted
(bury them in the pile to deter unwanted pests).
About the dryer lint. If the clothes are not cotton, aren’t you adding synthetics?
Lynda I personally don’t add lint to my compost pile but many people do. I don’t think synthetics are a great problem unless you are someone who has nothing but synthetics in your wardrobe. So many people now a day have mostly cotton or some natural fiber for clothing and if they do have synthetic in their clothes it is a mix like 80% cotton and 20% synthetic. So it isn’t enough to normally worry about.
Now that is changing with micro fiber. I chuckle because for years people have joked and made fun of the 70’s when people wore and used nothing but polyester and yet now those same people are falling in love with micro fiber which is just the new polyester. It is every where – linen, clothes, fabric….
Linda is right – you really shouldn’t put dryer lint on the compost. There are plastics in so many clothes now, most people don’t own all-natural fibre clothes. I think you should add a comment on this as it is important. Otherwise I found this list really useful so thank you for sharing!
If you make yogurt and can’t use up all the whey, you can pour that onto your compost heap. It is safe because it doesn’t have any of the milk solids in it.
Compost: “Organic matter that has undergone progressive decomposition by microbial and macrobial activity until it is reduced to a spongy, fluffy texture. Added to soil of any types, it improves its ability to hold air and water and to drain well.”
In his book “All New Square Foot Gardening”, Mel Bartholomew says, “Any plant material is perfect for adding to your compost pile as long as it’s not hosting a plant disease or pest.” He writes that “animal byproducts are not good for your compost. Eggshells are okay; just crush and sprinkle around. Manure is okay from plant-eating animals, but no manure from meat-eating animals”. He also states the grass clippings must be dry, otherwise you will end up with a “black-hat, anaerobic operations that’s a stinking, slimy, gooey mess.”
I’d like to echo “no manure from meat-eating animals”. Cats and dogs will have been treated against worms and that won’t do the wrigglers in the heap any good.
I disagree with the suggestion to compost full sweeper bags. True most of the contents are dirt and hair; but what about any staples, paperclips, bits of tiny metal? I don’t think I want unknowns in my compost.