Welcome to the world of composting! In this simple guide, we'll explore everyday items suitable for your compost bin, sourced from both your kitchen and garden. We'll also cover what items to steer clear of, ensuring you turn ordinary waste into a nutrient-rich boost for your garden. Ready to unlock the magic of composting? Let's get started!
What Can I Compost? 5 Kitchen Items for Your Compost Bin
These kitchen items in your compost bin can provide various benefits, as they contribute to creating nutrient-rich compost for your garden. Here are the benefits of putting these items in the compost bin:
Fruit and Vegetable Peels
Nutrient-Rich Compost: Fruit and vegetable peels are rich in organic matter and essential nutrients. Including them in your compost bin adds valuable nitrogen and other micronutrients to the compost, promoting healthy plant growth.
Loose Leaf Tea/Paper Tea Bags
Compost Aeration: Loose leaf tea and paper tea bags contribute to aeration in the compost pile. They help create air pockets, allowing better circulation and preventing the compost from becoming too compacted. Good aeration is essential for the composting process.
Stale Bread and Cooked Plain Pasta
Carbon-Rich Material: Stale bread, like pasta, is a source of carbon. It adds bulk to the compost, helping to maintain the carbon-to-nitrogen balance. Breaking the bread into smaller pieces before composting can accelerate its decomposition. Small quantities of plain pasta can enhance the diversity of organic matter in the compost.
Eggshells
Calcium Enrichment: Eggshells add calcium to the compost, which is an essential nutrient for plant development. Calcium helps prevent issues like blossom end rot in tomatoes and peppers. Crushed eggshells also aid in improving the structure of the compost.
Coffee Grounds
Nitrogen Boost: Coffee grounds are a nitrogen-rich material that adds valuable nutrients to the compost. They also enhance the microbial activity in the compost pile. Coffee grounds are particularly beneficial when mixed with carbon-rich materials like leaves or straw to maintain a balanced compost.
What Can’t I Compost? 5 Kitchen Items to Leave Out of Your Compost Bin
While composting is an excellent way to recycle kitchen waste, some items are best avoided in the compost bin due to potential disadvantages or challenges.
Citrus Fruit Peels
Slow Decomposition: Citrus peels, such as those from oranges and lemons, contain natural oils and compounds that can be slow to decompose. They may take longer than other compostable materials, potentially slowing down the overall composting process.
Onion and Garlic Scraps
Odour Concerns: Onion and garlic scraps can contribute strong odours to the compost. While they are compostable, some people avoid them to prevent attracting pests or producing unpleasant smells in the compost pile.
Meat, Fish, and Bones
Risk of Pests and Odours: Meat, fish, and bones can attract pes