Every year, over 23 billion pounds (about 10.5 billion kg) of coffee were produced worldwide. Many of these beans are brewed into coffee and then discarded.
This can be wasteful, as there are many ways to reuse coffee grounds. If you add on to the fact that many also simply just wash the grounds down the sink, coffee grounds could do much more than just clog up drains.
There are three common ways for you to dispose of coffee grounds. You can throw them away as organic waste or give them to coffee ground recyclers. You can also reuse them yourself as gardening materials, household cleaners, or as cosmetics.
Keep reading for unique ways to dispose of your coffee grounds by reusing them. I will also let you know if it is a good idea to wash coffee grounds away in the sink and garbage disposals.
Can You Pour Used Coffee Grounds Down The Sink?
Generally, it may be safe to wash your coffee grounds down the sink. However, avoid doing that if you can since you will need a lot of water to wash it away. These coffee grounds can build up and become clumps that block off pipes. Aside from that, you can make better use of coffee grounds too.
Generally, most people default to simply washing their used coffee grounds down the sink after brewing the coffee.
This, in general, is ok. Your plumbing system may be able to handle coffee grounds every now and then. However, this is something you want to rethink if you do it regularly.
This is because coffee grounds are solid physical items. They may be small, but they will require a large amount of water to wash them down your pipes. This means you need to use a lot of water. Now that water is ever scarcer in the city, you may want to think about this.
Plus, coffee grounds can easily clump up since they are physical items with oils. These oils may solidify and form clumps of coffee grounds. These clumps may clog up your pipes and cause blockage.
It may be better to dispose of your coffee grounds the other way.
Can You Use a Garbage Disposal To Dispose of Coffee Grounds?
It may not be a great idea to dispose of coffee grounds using a garbage disposal. This is because even if your garbage disposal can grind up the coffee into finer grounds, they still contain oil. This means these oils can solidify, and clump up the coffee grounds. These clumps may clog your pipes.
To some, if washing the coffee grounds down the pipe is a bad idea, they may think about using the garbage disposal. The logic is that if garbage disposal can grind up bones, it should be able to chop up coffee grounds.
In that way, it is correct. A garbage disposal may process coffee ground down into finer particles. Hence, they flow in the drainage pipes easier.
However, you also want to remember that coffee grounds are not just solid waste on their own, it also contains oils. If you do not wash them away clearly, the oil in these coffee grounds may solidify, and clump up. This may translate into clogs, which can be bad for you.
To be safe and to ensure a clean and well-functioning pipe, it may not be a good idea to use coffee grounds with your garbage disposal.
What Are the Best Ways To Dispose of Used Coffee Grounds?
You may be able to dispose of coffee grounds by throwing them as organic waste, giving them away to collectors, or reusing them yourself. Used coffee grounds may have a lot of use around your household in ways that may surprise you.
Generally, it may not be a good idea to wash used coffee grounds down the pipes, as they may clump up and clog the pipe. However, what are the options for disposing of used coffee grounds?
You may consider one of the three here:
Dispose Of As Organic Waste
If you wish to remove your coffee grounds, you can start by not washing them down the drain. Instead, dispose of the grounds as organic waste.
In many places, organic wastes are usually picked up by people who are looking for organic wastes to process into useful materials. These may include composts, fertilizers, and such. In some places, biomass generators use organic wastes to generate energy.
Give Them Away To Recyclers
Suppose you prefer to be more hands-on with the disposal of your coffee grounds. In that case, you can locate nearby recyclers that may appreciate your coffee grounds. These may include local farmers or gardeners looking for materials to create compost.
Some of these recyclers may also use these used coffee grounds and turn them into cosmetic or skincare products. It is common to see coffee scrubs, soap, and many things made from used coffee grounds.
Some local coffee shops may also have collection points for you to drop off any used coffee grounds, where they can then send them off to recyclers. You can hop in and join their recycling effort too.
Reuse The Coffee Grounds Yourself
Finally, suppose you want to ensure you derive the maximum benefit from your coffee purchase. In that case, you can always reuse the coffee grounds yourself. You can reuse your coffee grounds in many ways too.
Used coffee grounds can be used in your garden. Turn them into compost, or use them directly as fertilizers. Coffee grounds are also a good pest deterrent, keeping your plants away from snails or bugs.
Coffee grounds also may be a good deodorizer around the house. They can function well as an abrasive agent in clearing household items. They also make great cosmetic products.
How To Reuse Coffee Grounds?
You can reuse coffee grounds in many ways, in and around your house:
- Abrasive Agents For Kitchenware
- Color Dye
- Compost For Your Garden
- Deodorizer
- Exfoliating Scrub For Your Skin
- Fertilizer For Your Garden
- Fireplace Cleaner
- Hair Growth Stimulant
- Insect & Pest Repellent
- Meat Tenderizer
- Natural Flea Remover
Coffee grounds are reusable in many ways, as they have many nutrients or compounds. Generally, you may use them in several major ways, such as cleaners, gardening materials, or cosmetics.
Below are some of the methods people have been using used coffee grounds in and around the house. Some of the uses may even surprise you:
Abrasive Agents For Kitchenware
Why not use coffee grounds if you prefer not to use too many chemicals to scrub and clean your plates, pots, and pans? Its texture may work well, especially if they are grounded down as French press grounds.
To use them to clean your kitchenware, rub some wet coffee grounds directly onto them and scrub. Make sure to rinse thoroughly afterward.
Color Dye
Like art and handicraft? You may like used coffee grounds. This is because you can use it as an inexpensive and natural dye to color fabric and paper. Materials such as cotton, linen, and rayon may respond well to color dyeing using used coffee grounds.
Some people use coffee grounds to dye eggs and darken the color of their hair. Using used coffee grounds may be a better option since they are chemical-free and do not bring any potential health problems.
Compost For Your Garden
If you are looking for methods to fertilize your garden, you can turn your coffee grounds into compost. Composting is a natural process that allows organic items to decompose and turn into rich, dark material.
People commonly use organic food wastes as materials for composting, which means coffee grounds are perfect for this.
You can sell this compost or use it as fertilizer for your garden. Composts help the soil in your garden hold onto more nutrients and water, which will later help your plants. In fact, composts made with coffee grounds tend to be richer as well.
Deodorizer
Suppose you notice how coffee shop bathrooms tend to have a bowl or two coffee grounds. In that case, this is because they are excellent deodorizers. Coffee grounds do this since it is rich in nitrogen, meaning they can help remove foul-smelling sulfur gas from the air.
It can function similarly to charcoal. Place a bowl of dried, used coffee grounds in the bathroom or fridge to help remove odors.
If you prefer a safer and more secure way, add these coffee grounds to a used sock. Hang them where you see fit. You can also tie up the sock and throw it into your shoe bags or suitcases to help eliminate odors.
Exfoliating Scrub For Your Skin
You may notice many skincare products use coffee grounds. Well, why buy when you can use yours straight away?
The coarse surface of coffee grounds means they can work as great exfoliators and scrubs. They should help to remove dead skin, and dirt, revealing fresh, new skin. The caffeine inside coffee grounds may also be a great antioxidant, protecting your skin from sun damage.
To use coffee grounds, mix them with some coconut oil into a paste. Apply onto the skin and use your skin to agitate. For more sensitive areas such as lips, replace coconut oil with honey for a gentler exfoliating effect.
Hair Growth Stimulant
Coffee grounds function well as skin exfoliators to remove dead skin cells and dirt. If you use them on your head, they may help to keep the scalp fresh and help make your hair healthier.
On top of that, the caffeine content on coffee grounds is proven to help stimulate and accelerate hair growth. This is found in humans and animals.
To use coffee grounds as a hair growth stimulant, take some coffee grounds, wet them, and apply them on your scalp. Scrub them with your hands, and allow them to sit for several minutes. Wash away with water before shampooing as usual. Do this two to three times a week.
Insect & Pest Repellent
Coffee may be a great drink, but some compounds can be highly toxic to insects, bugs, and pests. These compounds include caffeine and diterpenes.
This means you can use coffee grounds as repellent to keep insects, bugs, and pests away. To use coffee grounds as a repellent, put them into bowls and set them where you see fit. This should help keep mosquitos, fruit flies, or beetles away.
You can also pour coffee grounds around the base of your plant. This should help to keep ants, slugs, or snails from crawling up your plant.
Meat Tenderizer
Some meat can be tough. This is because muscle may contain fibers and protein. Most people may choose to first tenderize the meat before cooking them. The most common method is salt, enzymes, or acids.
However, coffee grounds can also work as a meat tenderizer. This is because coffee grounds contain natural acids and enzymes. Some say that coffee grounds also add additional flavor to the meat.
To use coffee grounds as a meat tenderizer, rub them onto your meat, together with your dry rub. Allow sitting for two hours before cooking.
Natural Flea Remover
If you own a pet like a dog, you would know that fleas can be a common problem. Treating them off your pet can also be time-consuming and expensive.
Most will rely on chemical-based flea removers, but these can be harsh on your pet’s skin. They may help to remove fleas but could start another issue with your pet’s skin. Perhaps a safer solution is to use coffee grounds. Coffee grounds can also repel pests, bugs, insects, and fleas.
To use coffee grounds as flea remover, you can rub them on your pet’s coat after shampooing them. Once done, rinse them off, and dry your pet. You can also do this regularly, once every several baths, as prevention.
However, for a more serious flea infection, you may need to see a vet, who can get you some prescription-strength flea removers. Coffee grounds alone may not work.
