Over the past few years, the planet has been dealing with a climate issue at an alarming rate. We are now told that we need to make massive changes in our lives in order to combat climate change and save our planet. These changes need to be made by everyone, not just major corporations, meaning individuals need to consider the ways that they can improve the health of the planet.
One of the best ways that you can play your part in this is to recycle at home and compost anything that you can rather than putting it in the trash. Of course, not everyone knows what you can compost which makes it tricky.
Composting has become a trendy way to reduce your personal carbon footprint, and it’s also a great way to improve the health of your garden if you have one.
Here, we are going to tell you about 8 things that you can compost at home. Some of these you might be aware of, but you also might be surprised at the rest. Keep reading to find out more.
Vegetables
One of the most obvious things that you can compost is the leftovers of any vegetables that you have in your fridge. It can be easy for vegetables to go off quickly and this is why many people end up throwing them out before they manage to use them. If you find that you have some vegetables lying around or even their skins, make sure to add them to your compost pile.
Some Food Waste
Food waste can be hard to compost, as it can attract rats and other vermin before it rots down into a mulch, but other items, like crushed eggshells, can be composted. Check out the foods you can compost so that you know you’re definitely composting the right things and making your garden healthy while you repurpose your food waste in a sustainable way.
Coffee Pods
Not all coffee pods are going to be compostable, but you will find that there are some that you can add to your compost heap. Halo coffee pods are a great example of a product that has been made with the environment in mind. If you are looking for a sustainable alternative to your coffee pods, then it might be worth taking a look at these.
Old Clothes
Clothing made from 100% natural fabrics, such as wool, cotton and denim, can be composted if you cut it into strips so that it’s not too large. Check the label to make sure your clothing doesn’t contain any man-made products like polyester, as these won’t compost. If any parts of the clothing are man-made, like cuffs or hoods, but the rest is natural, then simply remove the parts that aren’t compostable. This should only be attempted with clothes that are no longer wearable: if you simply don’t like your garments, then donate them to a charity shop for someone else to enjoy.
Post-It Notes
Something that you might be doubtful about on our list is post-it notes. While these are made from paper and so should be disposed of sustainably, many people are unsure about the glue that is on the top of them. The good news is that the glue on these is non-toxic which means that you can add it to your compost pile without worrying about anything going wrong.
Houseplants And Flowers
It’s never easy to keep houseplants alive, and if you find that you’ve got some that are no longer alive, or cut flowers that are past their best, then put them into your compost bin so that they can become fuel for their living kin in your garden. If you’re composting cut flowers then make sure that you wash or remove the ends of the stems, as these may have been in water that contained chemicals to keep them fresh for longer. With houseplants, you can put the whole plant and soil into the compost heap, but remember to remove any plastic labelling tags telling you what species of plant it was and the pot, as these won’t be compostable.
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Pet Hair
Do you find that you have a lot of pet hair around your home that needs to be disposed of? This is something that many pet owners have to deal with at certain times of the year and it can be hard to keep up with. The good news is that it is possible to dispose of your pet hair in your compost pile. Make sure to consider this next time you are tidying up after your dog so that you can benefit the planet and keep your home neat and tidy. You can also compost the excess pet hair that comes off when you groom your pet, meaning that nothing goes to waste.
Spices
Finally, you will find that you can compost any old spices that you have lying around your kitchen cupboards. The great thing about spices is that they take a long time to go off but they do eventually and so you might want to get rid of them. Often old spices lose their flavour before they go bad, so try to just use more to use them up. Really old spices will start to smell musty and could potentially contain bacteria that may be harmful. If this does happen then you should aim to add them to your compost pile in order to live in a sustainable way and have more compost.
Final Verdict
As you can see from this article, there are plenty of things that you can add to your compost pile. If you think that you have been missing out on composting any of these things, then now is the time to make some positive changes. Think about collecting the pet hair from around your home and don’t forget to add in any old vegetables to your pile. Follow our tips and tricks and soon you’ll have a great compost pile and you’ll be able to reduce your carbon footprint over the next few years.
