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Are Coffee Filters Compostable?
If you love coffee, then chances are you own a coffee maker, and if you own a coffee maker, then you probably go through a lot of coffee filters! But did you know that you can use them for other things besides just making coffee?
If you have already wondered this and you have found your way here, you are probably wondering if coffee filters are compostable, and I am here to answer your questions!
By the time you finish reading this article, you will know everything you need to know about using coffee filters as compost, as well as some extra information you should be aware of!
Are Coffee Filters Compostable?
So, are coffee filters compostable? The short answer is yes, they are compostable!
But it is important to know that only paper coffee filters are compostable.
If you use coffee filters that are made from another material, there is a higher chance that they contain some traces of plastic, and plastic is not good for compost.
Lots of other kinds of coffee filters are also usually treated with some form of chemical, so if you are using coffee filters that are not made out of paper, it’s in your best interest to avoid using them as compost.
As long as your coffee filter is made out of paper though, you can definitely use them in your compost heap.
Just make sure that they aren’t treated with bleach or any other chemicals if you want to keep it all natural.
Are Coffee Filters Bad For The Environment?
If you are concerned about the environmental effects of coffee filters, then don’t worry too much because paper coffee filters are definitely not bad for the environment (What about your coffee grounds? See our guide for reusing coffee grounds here).
Even the process used to make paper coffee filters is environmentally friendly, so you can use them to drink and as compost completely guilt-free (find out about other foods you can compost like bread here).
If you use paper coffee filters that are made using bleah though, they are going to be worse for the environment than those that don’t use any.
Bleached paper coffee filters are used to remove the taste and color of the paper so it doesn’t get into your coffee, but the paper coffee filters that don’t use bleach don’t taste bad at all!
To keep it all natural and safe for the environment, keep using unbleached paper coffee filters, but always rinse them before you use them!
This will ensure the taste of your coffee isn’t ruined by the paper.
Ways You Can Use Coffee Filters
Along with using them in your compost, there are a few other ways you can use them.
I have put together a little list of other ways you can use your coffee filters, and because coffee filters are compostable, most of the ways involve something to do with your garden.
Read on to find out more about the different ways you can use your coffee filters!
Use Your Coffee Filter More Than Once
While you should never use coffee beans more than once, you might not know that you can use your coffee filters more than once!
Instead of just wasting them after a single use, all you need to do is get rid of the coffee beans (preferably in your compost pile!), dry the coffee filter, and then you can use it again to make more coffee!
You can use the filter two or three times before it starts to affect the way your coffee tastes, so keep this in mind when you do reuse them!
Cleaning Glass Surfaces
Another great use for coffee filters is as a cleaning product!
It can be incredibly annoying when you get stains on your glass surfaces and using regular cleaning brushes and even some cleaning products can leave scratches on the surface.
Coffee filters solve this problem because when you use them for cleaning glass surfaces, they don’t leave any scratches!
They get stains out of glass really well as well, so it’s a cost-effective way to clean without having to spend any extra money and risk damaging the surfaces.
Straining Cooking Oil
Coffee filters are also great for straining cooking oil and they do a really good job of it!
When you use coffee filters to strain your oil, they will remove any impurities in the oil and it will make it a bit healthier too.
Using your coffee filters for straining cooking oil means you get more than a single use out of them and you won’t be wasting them!
Controlling Weed Growth
If you are having a weed problem in your garden, then your coffee filters might be just what you need!
Coffee filters, when used with used coffee beans, make for fantastic fertilizer and they can control weed growth in your garden
This will make managing your garden and the weeds much easier, especially if you are new to gardening.
Coffee actually contains a lot of nutrients that are essential for plant growth, which makes them perfect for use in your garden.
This is one of many reasons why coffee beans and coffee filters are so good for composting!
Use Them To Line Your Plant Pots
Another way you can use coffee filters in your garden is by using them to line your plant pots.
Usually, when you are trying to treat soil, it’s very common for it to spill out and then you have a mess you have to clean up.
By using coffee filters, it creates a protective boundary around the plant pots and it will protect the soil from spilling out of them.
Final Thoughts
Coffee filters are definitely compostable, but only untreated paper filters are the most environmentally friendly.
If you want to use coffee filters in your compost heap, then make sure you only use paper ones!
And if you want to get more use out of your coffee filters, make sure you try some of the other options I have listed!
