7 Things You Didn’t Know You Could Compost

Have you been looking for things you can compost? Let me tell you a few things that you didn’t know you could compost. I bet one of these would be right near you as you read this 😉

1. Human hair clippings: Yes, believe it or not, human hair clippings add a healthy bunch of nitrogen and minerals to that lovely compost waiting to sift through your hands this spring. Who knew Rapunzel had more to offer the world beyond our beloved fairytale! Oh and let’s be grateful for that pet hair ball you found in the corner of your room during cleaning…it has a higher purpose after all: nourishing your plants 🙂
2. Nail clippings: Especially without polish or other chemicals like polish remover. Let’s make sure to collect your pet pooch’s (or kitty’s) claw trimmings as well for the compost bin. I’m sure your kitty will thank you for helping to reduce her carbon pawprint 😉
3. Pet food: Wait, stop right there before you toss that left over cat food in the trash can after your furry kid has had her fill for the day! Did you know that dry cat food/ dry dog food adds nitrogen and other much needed love to the compost?
4. Fish food: Yes you heard it right! If you are wondering what to do with that old bag of fish pellets, well now we have an answer. You may just want to make sure they are devoid of chemicals (it may be a good idea to go through the ingredient list; the more natural/ organic it is the more organic our compost). Some sources do recommend mixing it with water before adding to the compost bin to prevent drawing rats to the bin. (Psst…..did you know fish pellets mixed with water also make a good garden fertilizer?…..Besides fish poop? Eww, what did I just say?!)
5. Old aquarium water: Yes, the water you empty from your fish tank when you clean it every week adds valuable nutrients to the compost bin. This is true especially if you do not add dechlorinators but leave the water overnight to dechlorinate naturally before adding to the tank. (Psst…… did you know this is another great fertilizer for your garden? Organic cat fish poop fertilizer sells for about $35 a gallon, duh!)
6. Outdated multivitamins: Why not dump the outdated multivitamins in your compost? Of course only if you are composting at home. If you offer kitchen scraps and yard waste to the county for pick up, you may want to check with their regulations if this is permissible. The tablets may be crushed/ powdered and added to your compost if you have the time and means for it: it may help the compost to take it faster. If your vitamins are gel capsules, you may want to soak them in water and after a few minutes when the capsule walls seem to break up on their own, let’s make sure to pack them off to their new earthen home.
7. Old/ leftover tea or coffee: Yes besides coffee grinds, you could also compost stale black tea/ coffee (dairy would be a no-no, so let’s make sure it is indeed black tea/coffee). Yes this also goes for the green tea in that cup by your computer still waiting for you from yesterday afternoon….and the left over herbal tea in the kettle.

Hope these tips give you a helping hand with composting. If you are looking for an easy-peasy compost bin you can make in under 10 minutes, please click here.

So, what are you waiting for? Let’s start composting!