How to dispose of Coffee Grounds
When coffee grounds and other food wastes are sent to landfill, they decompose to produce methane, a greenhouse gas with more than 20 times the global warming capacity of carbon dioxide.
Used coffee grounds should never be washed down the kitchen sink as it could coat the pipes with clumped-up grounds or grease (due to the natural oils in them).
That's why it's important to find more environmentally-conscious methods to responsibly reuse, repurpose, and dispose of used coffee grounds after you're finished with your cuppa.
Sources:
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Home compostableCoffee grounds are a great addition to your home compost. Composting coffee grounds produces a natural fertiliser that can improve soil’s water-holding capacity and promote plant growth, particularly in green vegetables.
Add to your home compost
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Green wasteCoffee grounds can be put in your kerbside green waste bin. Ensure that the coffee grounds are loose, not in any containers. It's a good idea to check with your local council if you're unsure.
Dispose of in Green Waste bin
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Worm foodWorms consume coffee grounds by breaking it down and turning it into a natural soil conditioner. Alongside other food scraps in your worm farm, the ground coffee decomposes and produces worm castings which can aid germination and act as a liquid fertiliser when diluted with water.
Add to worm farm
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RepurposePests such as mosquitoes and ants do not like the smell of coffee. To keep them away, sprinkle the coffee grounds around your garden crops. Soft-bellied pests such as snails and slugs do not like the texture of the grounds. You can also soak the coffee grounds overnight to make a liquid anti-microbial liquid. The resultant spray repels pests such as caterpillars and other crawly critters.
Use as natural garden pest repellent
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ReuseCoffee is a natural deodoriser, and used coffee grounds can be reused to deodorise your pantry, shelves, and fridge / freezer. Simply air-dry your used coffee grounds to get rid of moisture, pack them in a cloth bag or container, then place it wherever you need some freshening up.
Let dry and reuse as natural deodoriser
