Are you looking for ways to make the most of your kitchen compost? Kitchen compost scraps are a valuable resource that can be repurposed in various ways. In this blog post, we’ll explore 15 creative and practical uses for kitchen compost that go beyond traditional backyard composting.
A few ways you can use kitchen compost are to brew a compost tea for plants, make natural dyes for clothing, regrow vegetable scraps, create homemade pest repellents, and more!
By using your kitchen compost effectively, you can reduce waste, enhance your garden, and contribute to a more sustainable lifestyle. Keep scrolling to see 13 different ways you can use compost from kitchen compost bins.
13 Ways to use kitchen compost scraps
Kitchen compost scraps collected by your Sepura have more use than just going into a curbside compost bin or a compost pile! Check out our top 13 ways to use kitchen scraps, and make the most of your food scraps.
- Feed Backyard Chickens: If you have backyard chickens, they can enjoy a delicious and nutritious treat from your composted food scraps. Just make sure to avoid feeding them anything toxic to chickens.
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Make Vegetable Broth: Save vegetable scraps from your compost to create a flavorful homemade vegetable broth. Collect onion peels, carrot tops, celery leaves, and other suitable vegetable scraps. Simmer them in water to extract the flavors and nutrients, then strain the broth for use in soups, stews, and other recipes.
- Brew Compost Tea: Compost tea can be made from food scraps and used as a natural, organic liquid fertilizer. Fill a container with water and add food scraps from Sepura’s under-sink compost bin, allowing them to steep for a few days. Strain the liquid and use it to nourish your plants.
- Start a Vermicomposting System: Utilize food scraps from your compost to start a vermicomposting system. Worms can transform your kitchen scraps into nutrient-rich worm castings, which can be used as an excellent organic fertilizer for your plants.
- Create Homemade Fertilizer: Blend food scraps with water to create a nutrient-rich liquid fertilizer. Dilute the mixture and use it to feed your plants, providing them with the essential nutrients they need to thrive.
- Enhance Potting Mixes: Mix composted food scraps into potting soil to improve its nutrient content and water retention. This can benefit your potted plants by providing a healthier growing medium.
- Feed Houseplants: Take food scraps from your Sepura in-sink composter, finely crush them, and sprinkle a small amount of the scraps around the base of your houseplants. This can provide a slow release of nutrients over time, nourishing your indoor greenery.
- Attract Beneficial Insects: Certain food scraps can attract beneficial insects to your outdoor garden. For example, leaving overripe fruit scraps or fruit peels on the ground can attract butterflies and bees, aiding in pollination.
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Make Natural Dyes: Some food scraps can be used to create natural dyes for crafting or dyeing fabrics. For instance, onion skins can yield a lovely golden-brown color, while beet scraps can produce vibrant pinks and purples.
- Feed Outdoor Wildlife: Leave suitable food scraps, such as fruit peels or leftover bread, in designated areas to provide food for wildlife like birds or squirrels. Ensure that the scraps you offer are safe for the specific animals you are attracting.
- Homemade Pest Repellents: Some food scraps, such as citrus peels, coffee grounds, or garlic skins, can be used to create natural pest repellents. Infuse them in water, strain the mixture, and use the resulting liquid to deter pests in your garden.
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Regrow Vegetable Scraps: Utilize certain vegetable scraps, like the tops of carrots or the bottoms of celery, to regrow new plants. Place them in water or soil, and with some care, they can sprout and grow into new edible plants.
- Donate to Local Farms or Composting Facilities: If you have excess composted food scraps from your Sepura garbage disposal alternative, consider donating them to local farms or composting facilities. They can make use of organic material to improve soil health and fertility.
Do you know someone who’d like this list of kitchen scrap ideas? Share this article with them to help them out!
We made Sepura to be the effortless compost alternative to garbage disposals. Sepura is installed in place of a garbage disposal and composts all those food scraps that go down your sink while letting liquids flow down your drain.
The food scraps that go in your sink are sent into an odor-proof under-sink compost bin that can be removed and emptied every 2-4 weeks. You can easily use those collected scraps to try each of the kitchen compost uses listed above!
By harnessing the power of kitchen compost and making the most of every food scrap, you can actively participate in reducing waste, promoting a circular economy, and cultivating a greener and more eco-friendly environment.
Conclusion
Remember, food scraps from compost have incredible potential beyond just being discarded. By finding creative ways to use them, you can minimize waste, nourish your plants, and contribute to a more sustainable lifestyle. Whether it's enriching soil, creating homemade fertilizers and natural dyes, or attracting beneficial insects and wildlife, the possibilities are endless.
As you explore the various uses for food scraps from compost, don't forget the importance of maintaining a well-balanced composting system. Ensure that you are composting appropriate food scraps and avoiding items that may hinder the composting process or attract pests.
