While writing the composting section for the new book, it occurred to me that my list in book one was rather incomplete and only covered some of the things we compost at home. There’s a surprising number of common, everyday items that are fit for the compost, yet many gardeners tend to stick to the basics such as kitchen scraps and dead plant waste. Adding just a few more items to the bin can drastically reduce the size of your weekly rubbish bag.
- Gum
- Hair
- Toothpicks
- Pet bedding (Rabbits, hamsters, and other herbivores only!!)
- Paper egg cartons
- Tissues and paper toweling (Depending on what was on them)
- Cotton balls (Depending on what was on them)
- Paper bags (I shred these for use as bedding in my vermicomposter)
- Toilet rolls
- Shredded paper, newspaper, receipts and documents (non-glossy)
- Wine corks
- Matches
- Dry dog food (Be careful about attracting vermin but makes a good compost activator for getting your pile rocking.)
- Cardboard
- Old spices and herbs from the cupboard
- Nut shells
- Wine (Another decent compost activator)
- Felt, old wool, bamboo or cotton socks
- Dust from sweeping and vacuuming
- Old pasta
- Spoiled flower bouquets and their water
Related:
- Our fantastic craptastic compost bin
- Vermicomposting – Composting with a worm bin.
- Urban Composting – Make a small compost bin for a roof or deck
