Recycling
Wow, I Can Compost That?
Mary Mazzoni
When it comes to compostables, most of us think of the usual suspects—fruit and vegetable scraps, yard trimmings and paper. But that’s only the start of what you can toss in your bin.
Office Leftovers
Sure, you can toss shredded paper, junk mail and cardboard onto your backyard pile. But what about other office leftovers? Rescue more materials from your office trashcan by composting some of these surprising supplies. You may think that the adhesive strips on envelopes, sticky notes and masking tape exclude these materials from your bin, but they’re actually just as easy to compost as other paper products. Just remember to remove any plastic windows from your envelopes before tossing them on the pile. Check for toxic ingredients first, but most water-based white glues—including Elmer’s brand—are also 100 percent compostable. And don’t forget all those pencil shavings! After all, they’re just wood, right?
Houseplants
We can’t all have a green thumb. So, if one of your houseplants has “gone to a better place,” toss it on your backyard compost pile to create nutrient soil for your garden. Like dry yard trimmings, dead houseplants provide carbon-rich ingredients for your pile. Also found in coffee grounds, wood ashes and sawdust, carbon gives microbes the energy they need to work—enabling faster decomposition. To compost your fallen flora, simply remove the deceased plant and potting soil from your window box, and toss it all into the bin. Wilted flower arrangements and natural potpourri are also carbon-rich compostables.
Dry Food and Other Pet Supplies
If you own a pet, you likely have an endless stream of compostables at your disposal, and you may not even know it! Any form of dry pet food that may go to waste makes perfect fuel for your backyard pile, as does stale catnip and unwanted rawhide dog chews. Just be sure to bury these materials in your pile to deter rodents and other pests. If your pet tends to shed, all that fur you sweep and vacuum from your floors can also go right into the compost pile.
Are smaller animals like rabbits, hamsters and parakeets more your style? Bedding from small animal cages is also 100 percent compostable. But if you plan on using your compost to feed your vegetable garden, avoid composting bedding that has been soiled with litter, as it could harbor bacteria that is harmful to human health, the EPA suggests. Rabbit food pellets and old fish food are also safe for your pile.
Beer
Last year we told you that wine is compostable. But don’t forget its fizzy cousin! Beer, including brews that are stale or skunked, is both biodegradable and compostable. Like wine, beer not only composts but also acts as a composting accelerator. How does it work? The beer itself is a great source of nitrogen, and the yeast within provides food for the microbes in your pile. So, the next time you host a party and find yourself disposing of 30 half-full bottles, just dump the contents on your pile before recycling the rest. If you brew your own beer, all waste generated during the homebrewing process is also compostable.
Old Clothing and Towels
Sure, you can donate old clothing, towels and rags to a local thrift store or shelter. But if they’re too far gone to reuse, why not try tossing them on the compost pile? Since they’re made from organic ingredients, all cotton and wool rags, towels and dish cloths are 100 percent compostable. Old cotton, wool and hemp clothing, socks and undergarments are also safe for your bin, as is worn-out rope made from the same materials. Just remember to wash all old towels, rags and clothing with nontoxic detergent before tossing them in the bin. Some household cleaners and detergents contain toxins that could be harmful to your microbial friends.
Loofahs and Tissues
You already know you can toss washroom compostables like cotton swabs and toilet paper tubes into the bin. But that isn’t all you can compost in the bathroom. Since they are made from natural vegetable sponges, those loofahs you use to keep your skin smooth and soft are actually 100 percent compostable. Want to close the loop? Use compost from your pile to help you grow your own loofahs right in the backyard.
If allergies have you blowing your nose every five minutes, you can also toss all those used facial tissues right into the bin. Paper towels used to clean up spills and other household messes are also safe for your pile, as long as they haven’t touched any toxic cleaning supplies. While cold and flu viruses don’t usually survive long outside the human body, skip composting tissues used during an illness to avoid potential health risks.
Mary Mazzoni is a staff writer for Earth911 based in Philadelphia, PA. This article was reprinted with permission from www.earth911.com.Visit the original link at http://earth911.com/news/2012/04/11/wow-i-can-compost-that.