Not Paper, Not Coffee Grounds: The Unexpected Household Item To Add To Compost After Using

If you're composting at home, you probably have a good idea of which household items can be composted and which can't. Produce peels, paper, and lawn trimmings are approved, for example, but meat and dairy products are a kitchen scrap you should never add to compost. However, there's also a lesser-known item you might be throwing in the trash that should really go into your compost bin: matches. While this might sound surprising, there is a simple explanation behind it.

Like leaves, twigs, and newspapers, matches are a type of "brown" material that will give your compost pile a serious carbon boost. In a compost pile, these dry, papery or woody items provide structure and absorb moisture. In addition to browns, you'll also need "green" material (such as grass clippings, fruit and vegetable scraps, and coffee grounds) to provide moisture. When composting, you should aim for a ratio of two to three parts browns to one part greens. If you need to bulk up your browns, matches can be a good option. But before you go dump a pile of old matches into your compost bin, there are some safety tips to keep in mind.

Unlike apple cores and egg shells, you can't just toss matches into a compost pile. Instead, you'll need to take some extra steps to ensure that they don't start a fire. If you've already used the match, let it cool down completely before composting it. To be extra careful, you can also dunk the match in water to make sure it's fully extinguished. On the other hand, unused matches pose a bigger fire risk, since they can ignite if they strike against another surface. To compost unused matches safely, soak them in water for an hour before putting them in your compost pile.

Curious about the science behind this? Aside from being woody and dry (ideal for brown compost materials), matches contain sulfur and magnesium — two elements that promote healthy plant growth. Plus, since matches are primarily made of wood, they're eco-friendly and safe to bury in soil. Even if you're not a composter, you can throw used matches into your garden to fertilize outdoor plants and enjoy some of the same benefits!