10 Household Items You Should Be Composting

If we had to make a list of the most sustainable activities, home composting would probably be at the top. Each time you toss a citrus peel or an eggshell into your compost pile, you’re literally taking organic waste that would have gone to a landfill site and transforming it into a rich, dark material (compost) that delivers nutrients back into the soil.

Compost is more than just a top-notch fertilizer for your plants. It’s also part of the solution to climate change. Many people are unaware that organic materials — like food scraps, paper and grass clippings — can’t break down properly in oxygen-poor environments such as landfill sites. Instead, they break down anaerobically, generating a massive amount of methane that contributes to global warming.

How Composting Helps the Environment

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. landfills and trash incinerators are inundated with 167 million tons of garbage every year, of which 50 percent is compostable. By taking the time to learn how to compost at home, we can turn our waste into a useful material that gives back to the planet. This “black gold,” as it’s often called, is beneficial for many reasons:

• It reduces the amount of methane in landfills.
• It reduces the need for chemical fertilizers and soil conditioners.
• It aids plant growth.
• It removes carbon from the air.
• It saves money by saving landfill space.
• It helps the soil retain water, resulting in less runoff.
• It aids reforestation efforts.

10 Household Items You Can (and Should) Compost

Composting at home is easy, fun and free. In fact, it could be as simple as digging a hole in your backyard and adding organic material, bit by bit.

But if you’re new to the world of composting, you may be wondering: What can I throw in my compost bin?

Most beginner composters know that they can compost their fruit and vegetable scraps. Here are a few more surprising things you may not have realized you can compost.

1. Rotten Produce – Who says that your produce needs to be fresh when it goes into your compost bin? Technically, you’re just adding food that has a head start on the decomposition process. If you have fruits or vegetables past their prime, feel free to cut them up and toss them in your compost pile.
2. Natural Loofah Sponges – Plastic-based sponges and loofahs are often full of harmful chemicals that aren’t good for the environment or your compost pile. Natural loofahs, on the other hand, are perfectly safe to compost and are designed to tackle the toughest cleaning jobs in the kitchen or bathroom.
3. Paper Towels – If you have young kids (or perhaps a messy partner), chances are you go through a lot of paper towels. The good news? Depending on the type of spill, you can safely compost your used paper towels. If you’re sopping up water or fruit juice, for example, it’s A-OK to toss your used paper towels in your compost pile. Avoid composting paper towels that were used to clean up grease, oil or fat, as these can make your compost pile stink and may attract unwanted pests.
4. Pizza Boxes – Yes, you can compost pizza boxes — at least, you can as long as they are unwaxed and contain no toxic inks. Most pizza boxes use soy-based inks, but you may want to double-check with your pizza place just in case. It’s also better if your pizza box isn’t overly greasy due to the reasons we’ve mentioned above. (All the more reason to skip the oily cheeses and opt for a healthier pizza instead.)
5. Solid Dish Soap – There are lots of reasons to switch to solid dish soap. For one thing, they’re less likely to contain harmful ingredients like triclosan, an antimicrobial agent that has been linked to reproductive problems. Solid dish soaps that contain natural, plant-based ingredients can also be composted. Once your bar dissolves into a tiny soap sliver, toss it in your compost pile. (The natural fragrance may help deter unwanted pests as well.)
6. Hair – Fun fact: Humans shed between 50 and 100 hairs a day — and chances are most of yours will fall out while you’re in the shower. (Thank goodness for drain covers.) Rather than toss that clump of hair in your bathroom waste bin, why not compost it instead? Hair is an organic material that is surprisingly high in nitrogen, making it a good “green” for your compost pile. Note: You can also compost your pet’s hair.
7. Paper Coffee Filters – Want to reduce the environmental impact of your morning cup of Joe? Compost your paper coffee filters. As long as they’re regular, unbleached paper coffee filters, they should make a great “green” addition to your compost pile. In case you’re now wondering, the answer is yes — coffee grounds can also be composted.
8. Sticky Notes – Paper products that are non-toxic and biodegradable can be composted, and that generally includes sticky notes. (Bonus points if you use sticky notes made from recycled paper!)
9. Old Spices – Honestly, who doesn’t have an old bottle of paprika sitting in their cupboard? Although spices may not go bad like produce, they will eventually lose their flavor. If you have spices past their prime, sprinkle them on your compost pile and simply reuse the jar.
10. Biodegradable Tea Bags – Tea bags can be composted, but only if they are made from biodegradable materials. Unfortunately, many tea bags contain polypropylene, a plastic polymer that helps the tea bag keep its shape in hot water. If you’re not ready to make the switch to loose leaf tea, consider buying tea bags from brands that don’t use plastic. Not only will you be able to compost your used tea bag, but you’ll also feel better knowing that your tea isn’t releasing billions of plastic particles when it’s steeped.

There is a big wide world of things you can compost at home. So, what are you waiting for? Let’s create some black gold!