Do Coffee Grounds Belong In Your Garbage Disposal?

It may seem like a good idea to dump your coffee grounds down the garbage disposal because if food can go down, why not coffee grounds? But unfortunately, putting your coffee grounds in the garbage disposal will not just harm your plumbing, but you’ll also be missing out on earning some fantastic benefits from these.

Coffee grounds don’t belong in your garbage disposal, as they can clump together when wet and cause your garbage disposal to clog—recycling your coffee grounds as compost is the best use. They also work great as fertilizer, repellent, or as a natural face scrub.

Plumbers seriously advise against putting coffee grounds in your garbage disposal. Let’s look at why throwing coffee grounds down the garbage disposal is a problem and what are the best ways to use your spent coffee grounds.

Are Coffee Grounds Safe to Put Down the Garbage Disposal?

Used coffee grounds and eggshells for organic compost for plant

Although the garbage disposal is equipped to handle many dense foods, you’ll be surprised to find that it’s best to keep coffee grounds out of it.

Most foods break down when they get wet, whereas wet coffee grounds become denser and are more likely to clog your pipelines, particularly the U-shaped area under the kitchen sink.    

This problem may worsen when coffee grounds get mixed with other food scraps in the garbage disposal. The debris build-up will damage the pipes and drainage system, and you may even have to call a plumber to remove the thick mass of coffee grounds stuck in the pipe.

What Happens if You Put Coffee Grounds Down the Drain?

As ground coffee looks like fine powder, many people believe it will not cause a problem going down the drain. However, once it gets wet, these coffee grounds turn into a clumpy and thick paste that can wreak havoc on your plumbing. 

Avoid putting coffee grounds down the drain if you don’t want to have a serious clog on your hands. The best way to dispose of coffee grounds is to throw them in the trash or the compost. 

If your trash can and compost bin are full and there’s no other option, you can occasionally throw your coffee grounds down the drain. After doing so, run a lot of water to ensure that all the particles are washed away and everything is adequately rinsed through. 

Can Coffee Grounds be Composted? 

Coffee grounds are a great source of organic matter that can come in handy in the garden. Not only can they be composted, but they can also be added directly to the soil to deter garden pests and enrich the soil. 

Adding coffee grounds to your compost is easy; however, it’s best to remember that coffee grounds are rich in nitrogen. Therefore, for balanced compost, it’s best to mix carbon-rich materials such as shredded paper and dry leaves with your spent coffee grounds. 

How much coffee grounds you add to your compost depends on the number of spent coffee grounds you have. If you have just a tiny amount from your morning coffee, you can mix them in your existing compost by throwing them into the compost tumbler or bin. 

But if you have a larger amount of coffee grounds, mix them in the proper proportions. A ratio of 30:1 of carbon compounds to nitrogen compounds is typically recommended. 

How to Re-Purpose Your Used Coffee Grounds 

Using Coffee as Compost

Instead of throwing away your spent coffee grounds into the trash can, it’s more environmentally friendly to use them for the following purposes:

Fertilizer

Typically, the soil doesn’t contain all the nutrients essential for the optimal growth of plants. That’s why gardens need to be fertilized to provide them with the necessary nourishment. 

Coffee grounds are rich in crucial minerals like potassium, nitrogen, iron, calcium, magnesium, etc., making them an excellent fertilizer option. They also attract earthworms, which are suitable for your garden. 

Cat Repellent

Coffee grounds are also very helpful in repelling cats. So if you are tired of your neighbor’s cat pooping in your garden, sprinkle some grounds around the garden. 

Face Scrub

You can also mix coconut oil with your coffee grounds to make a face scrub free from harmful chemicals. It will help to freshen up your skin and leave it feeling soft and luxurious.

Compost

Composting your coffee grounds is another excellent use for them. Adding compost to your garden prevents the soil from losing water and key nutrients, which in turn helps improve your plants’ health.

Deodorizer

Coffee grounds also absorb and eliminate odors. They contain nitrogen, which, when combined with carbon, helps eliminate sulfur gas (a foul-smelling gas) from the air. 

You can put coffee grounds in a bowl and place it in the refrigerator to eliminate unwanted odors from fragrant or spoiled food. Placing these grounds in drawers, shoes, under the car seat, gym bag, etc., will also help neutralize foul odors.

Meat Tenderizer

Remember to use coffee grounds to tenderize the meat the next time you hold a barbecue in your backyard. You’ll be surprised by the results! 

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