HOW TO DISPOSE OF COFFEE GROUNDS – 11 SUSTAINABLE WAYS

Coffee is fantastic, but the mess it leaves behind isn’t.

While this doesn’t seem like a big deal at first, those coffee grounds can be pretty messy and hard to clean up. There are some good ways to dispose of them and not so good ways as well.

Luckily there are some easy ways you can repurpose your used coffee grounds instead of just throwing them out with the trash! In this article, you will learn about how to properly dispose of your used grounds, as well as sustainable alternatives you can do with them.
 

CAN COFFEE GROUNDS GO DOWN THE SINK?

Pouring leftover grounds down a sink is not a very good idea. It will cause the drain to clog and could be potentially harmful to anyone who drinks out of that sink. Coffee grounds can contain mold or fungus spores, which end up in groundwater when they are flushed down a drain. These fungal organisms can make their way into our drinking water and pose immense health risks.

On top of being bad for the environment, throwing your coffee grounds down the drain is bad for you. Do yourself a favor and throw them in with your regular trash if you don’t want to use them as compost!
 

COFFEE GROUNDS ARE BAD FOR YOUR SEPTIC SYSTEM.

Coffee grounds contain seemingly harmless organic material such as cellulose and lignin, but they also have something that can keep you from emptying your septic tank: nitrogen.

Nitrogen is nothing to be afraid of in small amounts because it’s present in most commercial fertilizers. But too much nitrogen can cause an imbalance in the septic system, which can lead to negative consequences.

Nitrogen keeps your system from draining completely, and it causes fats, oils, and grease to build up at the bottom of your sewer drainpipe (a.k.a.: “the kitchen sink”). This is why many people have problems with drainage when they throw coffee grounds down it.
 

CAN COFFEE GROUNDS GO DOWN THE GARBAGE DISPOSAL?

Although used coffee grinds may appear to be finely milled and can easily slide down the garbage disposal unit, please don’t do it! It may cause a blockage since the paste-like texture of wet grounds can pile up in time and form a soggy sediment that will be very difficult to remove out of the drain.

Coffee is biodegradable and non-hazardous, so you can throw it directly in a regular trash can instead. It is a known deodorizer as well, so it can absorb the foul smell of your garbage.
 

11 SUSTAINABLE WAYS TO REUSE YOUR LEFTOVER COFFEE GROUNDS

It’s better to help lessen the environmental footprint and reduce the amount of garbage you send to your community’s landfills. So, why not be creative and find ways to reuse your old coffee grounds instead? Here are a few innovative and sustainable ideas for you to try.
 

GARDEN FERTILIZER

Coffee has various minerals and nutrients that are essential to help in plant growth and nourishment. It contains nitrogen, iron, potassium, calcium, chromium, and magnesium that help absorb heavy metals contaminating the soil. Also, used coffee could bring in more worms that help soil structure and nutrient cycling in your garden.
 

COMPOSTING

You can opt to use your grounds for composting if you do not have an immediate use for fertilizer. Aside from food scraps and other biodegradable waste, you can add used coffee to your compost to make the soil richer. In addition, coffee can help reduce the emitted greenhouse gases.

ODOR NEUTRALIZER

Nitrogen is present in coffee and helps absorb and eliminate odors derived from the air. Placing a bowl of used grounds inside your fridge will neutralize the smell coming from odorous foods.

Another hack is to scoop some dried used coffee grounds into a sock or a pantyhose. Seal it by tying, and you instantly have yourself a portable air freshener. You can place it underneath the car seat, your shoes, gym bag, or any place you think requires some deodorizing.
 

INSECT REPELLANT

Caffeine and diterpenes  are compounds highly toxic to most insects and pests. This makes coffee great for repelling mosquitoes, fruit flies, beetles, and other bugs.

To use coffee as an insect repellant, place your used grounds in small bowls and set them out in corners where you find many insects dwell. You can expect a 75% reduction in insects within 3-4 days.

You can make a mosquito repellent candle by adding five tablespoons of coffee grounds to a half-gallon jar filled with vegetable oil. Leaving the lid off for a few minutes, add citronella essential oil and vanilla extract. Place the top on the jar, shake it up well before lighting it, and place it in your yard or near an outdoor area where you’d like to repel mosquitoes.

The University of Maine reports that coffee can also be used as an organic pesticide by spraying it on plants infested with aphids or mites.

This works so effectively—as you would imagine—because these insects are susceptible to caffeine toxicity!
 

SKIN EXFOLIANT

Coffee has plenty of strong antioxidant properties and coarse particles that can be used to exfoliate your face to remove dirt or dead skin cells. Try combining some coffee grounds with a bit of coconut oil to make a facial and body scrub. Or mix it with a small amount of honey instead, and you can use it to exfoliate your lips.

If you are familiar with commercial beauty products using coffee as an ingredient, you know how beneficial it can be for your overall skin health. It can protect your skin from sun damage, increase your blood flow, lessen cellulite, and many more.
 

CLEANING SCRUB

Ground coffee is abrasive, so you can use it on materials and surfaces that may be a bit challenging to clean. Try using a handful to polish your cookware, grillers, or sink to remove build-up. The grinds also have antibacterial and antiviral properties that make them suitable for sanitation.

However, avoid using coffee for porous items as it may cause hard-to-remove stains. Also, make sure you rinse the material properly whenever you use coffee as a cleaning agent.
 

NATURAL DYE

We are fully aware that spilling coffee on fabric will cause stains. With that, you should also know that you can create a natural, non-toxic, and inexpensive dye with it. You can use your coffee dye to color cotton, rayon, linen, paper, and even your hair.

Commercial dyeing products generally contain chemicals that may cause serious health risks like cancer. So, it’s better to opt for safer options like coffee. Brunettes and redheads can enhance the color of their hair by using coffee as a dye.

You don’t have to spend hours at the salon for some color treatment. Just add your used coffee grounds to a pot with water and bring it to a boil. Let the solution cool down and apply it to your hair as a hair mask. Wrap your head with a shower cap and let the dye sit for around 15 minutes before you rinse it off.
 

MEAT TENDERIZER

Meat contains some proteins and fibers, which can result in a tough texture and consistency when cooked. Most recipes require breaking down these rigid properties and tenderizing the meat.

The most common natural meat tenderizers are acids and enzymes, which are actually present in coffee. This makes it a compelling alternative for tenderizing as well as enhancing the flavor of your meat.

Try making a dry rub by mixing coffee with chili powder to apply to meat before cooking it. You should leave the marinated meat for no less than 40 minutes, so the coffee has enough time to penetrate and tenderize the meat fibers.
 

FURNITURE SCRATCHES

Scratches on your wooden furniture can be healed or minimized with the help of coffee grounds. Create a thick paste by mixing your used coffee and water. Rub this on the scratched surface using a cotton swab. Let it sit for about five to ten minutes before wiping it off with a rag. Coffee helps conceal the scratch as it dyes the exposed wood to its brown color.
 

MUSHROOM GROWING

Mushrooms are pretty tricky to grow and cultivate as they only thrive in particular conditions. One of the essential factors is humidity. You can add some coffee grounds to your mushroom bin to increase moisture and create a perfect environment for growing mushrooms.

Another factor to consider is your garden soil may be a little too ordinary to grow mushrooms. The earth gets more nutrients and becomes ideal for growing mushrooms by adding substrate like used coffee grounds.
 

REVIVE FADED DARK CLOTHING

Are your darker clothes starting to look faded? You can use coffee grounds to bring back the color of dark fabric, so it looks new again. Just put them in a container and add your garments to soak for an hour or more before washing as usual. The coffee will stain the material lightly to restore and revitalize dark colors.
 

CONCLUSION

If you’ve been pouring coffee grounds down the drain or in a garbage disposal, don’t be alarmed- however, this is not the best way to dispose of them! Instead, we recommend composting your leftover coffee grounds. This will help reduce waste and keep more trash out of landfills. And if that isn’t enough incentive for you, it can also provide nutrients such as nitrogen and potassium to your garden soil when mixed with other organic materials like leaves. So next time you make some java at home, save those used-up beans from going into the landfill and find a new use for them instead!  

Happy Brewing!