10 Surprising Things You Can Compost
Most gardeners know the value of a good compost heap. Not only is it eco-friendly, but the end product is also a nutrient-rich, plant-loving soil often referred to as black gold. Compost is a homegrown fertilizer, guaranteed to improve plant growth and fruit production. Food scraps are the most obvious things to compost but don’t stop there. Here’s a list of less obvious items that can be added to your compost heap:
- Hair (pet and human)
- Coffee grounds/filter
- Paper towel
- Toilet paper (and the rolls)
- Parchment paper
- Egg cartons
- Tampons
- Toothpicks
- Corks (true corks only, not plastic that looks like cork0
- Used matches
Keep in mind, different items decompose at different rates. Some take longer than others. So, while all of these items are safe to compost, you may find they take longer to degrade in your compost. We recommend waiting 18-24 months for the complete breakdown of items like menstrual products, corks and even hair.
Setting up a Simple Backyard Compost System
Photo by Edward Howell on Unsplashed
