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Did you know that even organic items like coffee grounds do not break down in a landfill?

So, if you are here to ask ‘Can you put coffee grounds in the garbage disposal?’ you should know that the answer is a ‘no’.

The simple answer is that your garbage disposal can handle it, but it will cause plumbing issues.

Why Is It A Bad Idea To Put Coffee Grounds In Garbage Disposal?

Just like banana peels, coffee grounds take a lot of time to decompose which makes them less suitable to put down your garbage disposal.

The fact is, you can put coffee grounds through the garbage disposal. It might be able to handle the beans, but in the long run, you will have plumbing problems. This is particularly true if the piping system is older or unclean.

The reason will seem rather obvious to you if you think about it for a minute. Like eggshells, coffee grounds are sedimentary by nature.

This means, if you put a lot of it in the garbage disposal system, despite having strong blades, the beans can create a clogging issue in the pipes.

That’s why it’s not so much about the system’s capacity but what happens afterward if you are not careful.

This happens because, unlike other food items, coffee grounds have a tendency to get lumped together even in the presence of water. This will cause a weird buildup in your pipelines and mess up your drain too.

Mixing The Coffee Grounds With Water Can Help

Now, there is a workaround for it. You need to throw the beans in there in installments and make sure that there is a strong enough flow of water that will flush them down the pipes right away. Make sure this is cold water and it is a continuous flow.

Advantage Of Putting Coffee Grounds Down Your Garbage Disposal

The advantage, when this is done right, is that coffee grounds can actually remove bad odors. But if you don’t get it right, they will cause clogging in your drain and follow up with the pipes too.

Unless you are good with these sorts of solutions, it is best to keep your coffee grounds away from your garbage disposal system.

Then What To Do With Coffee Grounds?

So, can you put coffee grounds in the garbage disposal? Clearly, the answer is ‘no’. What do you do with them then? We have some ideas for you.

  • Fertilize your plants - Since they are acidic and have a good deal of nitrogen, they make for a good fertilizer for plants inside the house and outside.

  • Repel insects - This works because the scent of coffee is said to attract insects like cockroaches. It helps you trap and get rid of them.

    If you’re not into the chase, you can still just spread them in your garden and the smell will drive away slugs, ants or snails combined with salt this can be the perfect way to protect your vegetable garden.

  • Create a face or body scrub - This is a good idea because they have natural antioxidants which are great for your skin.

    If you want to use it as a body scrub, combine it with a little coconut or olive oil. The resultant paste is a good exfoliator.

  • Use as air freshener - As mentioned earlier, they work well when it comes to eliminating bad smells. You might want to put them to good use by placing them in the fridge or under smelly shoes to get rid of those odors.

  • Condition your hair - Try them out as a hair product because if you are a big fan of serums or hair masks, your hair will have residue that could use a good scrubbing.

    Do this before you shampoo your hair and you will see that your hair is smooth and shiny.

How Do You Dispose Of Coffee Grounds?

If these options are not for you, it is always possible to just throw them in the trash. This is the easiest way to deal with them.

Are Coffee Grounds Bad For The Environment?

When they start to decompose, coffee grounds emit methane gas into the atmosphere. This gas is bad for the environment because it causes global warming more than carbon dioxide. 86 times more than CO2, to be precise.

Are Used Coffee Grounds Good For Grass?

As mentioned before, they take time when it comes to decomposing. They break down slowly but they are good for worms which makes them a good fertilizer.

Avoid Clogging Your Garbage Disposal With Coffee Grounds

If the question is ‘Can you put coffee grounds in the garbage disposal?’ there are different answers. You can do so gradually and by keeping the cold water faucet continuously on so that the grounds don’t get lumped.

But if you don’t have the patience to do this carefully, you best try some of the alternatives mentioned in this piece.