Can You Put Eggshells in a Garbage Disposal? FAQs
-
- Last updated:
Garbage disposals are designed to make disposing of food waste easier. These handy machines, located in the kitchen sink drain, are a great way to quickly and conveniently get rid of food scraps. But as versatile as they are, eggshells aren’t something you should put in the garbage disposal.
It can be tempting to just throw them down the drain, but if you care about your disposal’s lifespan, you’ll want to avoid putting your eggshells in there. To learn more about why you shouldn’t put eggshells in a garbage disposal and how to properly dispose of them, keep reading.
Can Garbage Disposal Take Egg Shells?
No, you shouldn’t put eggshells in a garbage disposal. Why? It’s easy to assume that the hard shells can damage the blades in the disposal, but that’s not the case at all. The problem lies in the eggshell’s membrane.
This sticky material can wrap around the blades and cause clogs 1 that are difficult to resolve. Additionally, eggshells contain small amounts of calcium (more on this in a moment), which can build up over time and create a coating inside the disposal, reducing its efficiency.
Therefore, it’s best to avoid putting eggshells down the drain, even if your garbage disposal is rated for “hard” foods.
What Should You Not Put in Garbage Disposal?
So, what else should you avoid putting in your garbage disposal? As it turns out, there are quite a few different items that you shouldn’t put in your disposal, such as:
- Stringy vegetables like celery and onion skins
- Grease or oils
- Bones
- Coffee grounds
- Fruit pits and seeds
- Starchy foods like potatoes
- Expandable foods like rice and pasta
These foods cause various problems for garbage disposals, from clogging to jamming the blades and creating odors. Therefore, it’s best to consider alternative disposing methods for these items.
How to Dispose of Egg Shells
Now that you know why you shouldn’t put egg shells in a garbage disposal—among other food items—let’s look at how you can properly dispose of them.
- One of the simplest and most eco-friendly ways to get rid of eggshells is to compost them. As mentioned, egg shells are high in calcium, which helps your compost break down more quickly.
- To compost eggshells, you’ll need to first rinse them off and air dry them. Once they’re clean and dry, simply crush them up into small pieces and mix them into your compost pile.
- If you don’t have a compost pile, you can also bury eggshells in the soil around your plants. The calcium they contain can help them grow and thrive.
- Finally, you can also add eggshells to a worm bin to help your worms break down their food. Eggshells will give the worms extra grit and calcium, which can help them digest their meals more quickly.
Conclusion
As you can see, it’s important to avoid putting eggshells down on your garbage disposal. Instead, opt for more eco-friendly methods, like composting or adding them to your worm bin. Doing this will help keep the environment safe and your garbage disposal in good working order.
Featured Image Credit: gadee4d133, Pixabay
Contents
