Composting is a sustainable way to dispose of kitchen scraps and reduce waste going to landfills. If you have been composting for some time, you may have already started experimenting with composting items that are not typically on the list of compostable materials. For beginners, this list of unexpected things to compost may come as a surprise.
1. Price Tags on Clothing:
Paper, paperboard, or cardstock clothing tags can be composted along with your kitchen scraps. These small tags are too tiny to be recycled curbside, but they act as a nice brown (carbon-based) addition to your compost pile.
2. Tea, Paper Wrappers, Tag, & Probably the Bag:
Tea, paper wrappers, and tags are compostable materials. However, there may be inconsistencies when it comes to the compostability of the tea bag itself, staples, and strings. It is best to research the materials used in your specific teabags before composting them.
3. Bamboo Skewers, Wooden Chopsticks, Toothpicks, & Matchsticks:
Disposable wooden kitchen tools like bamboo skewers, wooden chopsticks, toothpicks, and matchsticks can all be composted. Break chopsticks in half to speed up decomposition and remove the match head before composting.
4. Tissue Paper:
While tissue paper may not be recyclable in your local recycling facility, it can be composted in your bin. White tissue paper without any embellishments like sparkles or glitter can easily break down in a compost pile.
5. Kitchen Single-Use Paper Products:
In certain situations, single-use paper products like napkins, paper towels, uncoated paper plates, and cups can be composted. Make sure to rip them up before adding them to your compost pile.
6. Spent Potting Soil:
When changing the soil in your houseplants or outdoor flowerpots, add the spent soil to your compost bin to reintroduce nutrients back into the soil.
7. Shredded Paper:
Shredded paper should not be put in curbside recycling bins as it can cause issues with recycling machinery. Instead of recycling shredded paper, compost it to securely dispose of it and turn it into nutrient-rich soil.
Experiment with these unexpected items in your compost pile to see how they decompose in your specific composting setup. Remember that composting practices can vary based on climate, compost bin structure, and other factors. By trying out different materials, you can find what works best for your composting needs.
