We recycle our paper and plastics, so why not add one of our morning staples - coffee - to the list? Composting is a natural way of recycling, breaking down organic waste, and turning it into nutrient-rich matter. Coffee grounds can be used in the composting process in a variety of ways.
Coffee grounds can be applied directly to your garden, as a top dressing to nitrogen-loving plants, but the nitrogen will be more available to plants after the grounds decompose in your compost pile. Although coffee is highly acidic, most of the acidity is removed during the brewing process and most coffee grounds have near neutral acidity.
Add coffee grounds and filters to your compost pile. Coffee grounds act as a green material that is high in nitrogen. Combined with brown material, coffee helps create a rich environment for your compost micro- and macro-organisms to do their job of breaking down waste.
Coffee grounds can be used in worm bins along with other household waste to create vermicompost (indoor compost made by red worms).
Coffee grounds can be used out in the garden to create slug barriers around your hostas, ligularias and other plants that are susceptible to slug attack. Make sure that you use caffeinated coffee as it is the caffeine that will deter and even kill slugs. Simply create a small ½ to 1 inch wall of coffee grounds around the plant. Replenish the barrier as necessary.
