I do like eggs, anyway. After all, it’s a protein source and staple food in almost every household.
I often fry eggs before visiting the gym because they’re cheap and easy to prepare.
Like me, most people will toss eggshells out, where they’ll end up in landfills.
Since my mother cracks three eggs to make an omelet and throws eggshells in a compost pile, I ever wonder, is eggs shell biodegradable?
In this post, we’ll consider whether eggshells can decompose and their impact on the environment.
In closing in, we’ll find out how you can dispose of eggshells. And finally, it’s worth checking out whether you can recycle them or not.
Is An Egg Shell A Biodegradable Waste?
The answer is yes. Eggshells are biodegradable.
If something is natural, then there’s nothing that can prevent it from breaking down.
An eggshell has a high biodegradability level because it comes from a natural source.
It has no preventative.
Meaning, eggshells aren’t a threat to the environment.
You can throw them in your compost pile without having to worry about their decomposition.
Nonetheless, you’ve to dispose of eggshells properly.
If you expose the waste to the soil, it will break down quickly.
Gardeners add it to tomatoes, squash, peppers, broccoli, and other vegetables as its supplier of calcium carbonate.
You can use it for compost and other unique uses.
Eggshells – Do They Decompose?
Well, eggshells do decompose. Eggshell pieces decompose, but it depends on various natural factors, including soil, animals, and conditions.
If these pieces get into contact with animals, they’ll be broken down at ease.
Also, moist conditions tend to speed up the decomposition process.
And if you bury them with other waste in a compost heap or soil, they will degrade, although it may take some time.
How long does it take for an eggshell to decompose?
Eggshells take more than 3 years to break down. In an eggshell decomposition study, the outer shell was found intact after a year underground.
On the same, and after three years under the soil, there are no signs of decomposition.
The shell in a container didn’t look any different. It shows that eggshells take remarkably many years before they decompose.
The only exception is that eggshells can decompose in a reasonable short time under specific environments.
Ground eggshells into fine pieces while you add an acidic soil base. By doing so, you can speed up the decomposition process.
Eggshells tend to be stable either in soil or compost. With some help (water and acidic soil), they can break down a bit faster than normal.
Well, it’s not easy to tell the exact time, but based on this study, eggs decompose slowly and can take many years.
How Do You Dispose of Egg Shells? (Step-by-Step Guide)
It’s advisable to dispose of eggshells properly. Never put them in the garbage disposal.
Here’s the step-by-step guide on how to effectively do it. In most cases, you can get rid of eggshells through gardening activities.
- Rinse eggshells. First off, allow them to dry on a cookie rack for two or three days. Also, you can expose them to sunlight. Then place the shells in a large container.
- Grind and crush the eggshells using hand-held tools like a pestle. With that, the pieces will decompose in a compost heap or soil at a high rate.
- Now you mix them into the soil or add them to your compost.
- You can do other compostable substances like leftovers, ash, etc.
Is Egg Shell Recyclable?
No. An eggshell isn’t recyclable. Eggshells are simply food items or kitchen waste.
So, it’s impossible to store them so that they can undergo recycling. You can, however, add them to your compost pile.
If I may ask, “what are the identifiable manufacturing potential for eggshells”? The chances are that you’ll get none. Then why should you waste energy, resources, and time recycling them?
Recycling is a priority among Americans. They do consider a ‘zero-waste lifestyle’ every time they’re making a purchase.
In particular, a safe and healthy environment comes fast. And the best way to achieve this is by recycling.
Tips
- Don’t drop eggshells in a recycle bin
- They can easily contaminate other recyclable substances and materials
- No need to waste energy and time by putting it into the bin
- Just compost them
- Eggshell isn’t useless; you can use it in other meaningful ways.
Is Egg Shell Good For Plants?
Yes. Eggshells can do wonders for plants. Scientifically, eggshells’ major component is calcium.
Calcium plays a vital role in plants as it helps them build strong cell walls, thus boosting their growth rate. Talk of tomatoes, squash, and vegetables –they need calcium.
Eggshells improve soil structure. And apart from calcium, they provide organic materials to most plants.
That’s why experts encourage gardeners to use it when they’re preparing their compost.
It would help if you didn’t hesitate to add eggshells to the soil.
Alternatively, you can place them on the bottom of your plants to prevent weed instead of throwing it into your trash bin.
Why Should You Not Put Eggshells In Garbage Disposal?
Composting is one of the earth-friendly and convenient ways to dispose of eggshells and other kitchen waste.
Putting eggshells in a garbage disposal can be suicidal.
The shells turn into sand-like particles that stick to the pile walls. Eventually, this slows down the drain, thus causing a clog.
People argue that eggshells are responsible for sharpening the blade. That’s not true!
Other food items like rice, pasta, beans, and potatoes will also clog the mechanism.
Best Ways to Dispose of or Reuse Eggshells
We expect to cram all sorts of kitchen waste into our garbage disposal and its gears. But that’s not always the case. Garbage disposal can’t handle everything.
Sometimes, not all sorts of waste will disappear down the drain. Too much strain can make your disposal cause clogs.
Creativity is never-ending. It’s no surprise that you can use eggshells without posing challenges to the environment.
Here’s is how you can sustainably dispose of your eggshell;
- Feed your chickens. Your chicken needs to replenish calcium lost during egg production. Crush and mix it with feed for your chickens.
- Use eggshells in your garden to fight off pests. They cut and kill these pests – snails, slugs, cutworms.
- Organic gardening. Calcium in eggshells promotes an excellent growth rate for some plants.
- For composting. They’re biodegradable
- Chick making. It’s a good material for making chalks.
- Decoration. You can make holes or paint eggs with unique colors for Easter and Christmas decorations.
- Use them as seedling pots.
Conclusion
After you consume eggs, don’t put eggshells in the garbage disposal. The shells are biodegradable and compostable.
So, an eggshell isn’t useless.
Add it to your compost pile. Besides, it’s a constituent of calcium, which is suitable for plants.
There are sustainable things that you can do with eggshells. In every move you make, keep the environment in mind.
Sources
https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_gradthes/1635/
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1350417713000436
