Bathroom Compost? It's Snot What You Think It Is!

My fellow composters, I must confess that my favorite source of browns is…used tissues. I know it can be a bit controversial, but I do so with pride. So proudly, in fact, that were you to use the bathroom in my home, you would find both a small trash can to the right of my toilet, and a paper bag full of brown material for my compost to the left.

Did my partner or I blow our noses with a (lotion free) tissue? Into the compost bag.

Did he wipe up a bit of saline solution from the sink with a scrap of TP after putting in his contacts? Into the compost bag.

Composting your bathroom products may not be for the faint of heart, but for those unphased or morbidly curious:

Let’s talk about hygiene!

Beyond used tissues (which it goes without saying that you should wash your hands after touching), there are plenty of other “gross” things that you can compost. While some may have moved to a reusable ear swab, if you’re still working through a several hundred-unit $3 pack that you bought several years ago (like me), take a moment to see what kind you have. If they’re made from paper and cotton, be sure to compost after cleaning your ears!

What about the aftermath of grooming? Whether yours or your pet’s, nail clippings and hair can both be composted (though be mindful when considering the kinds of chemicals used in things like hair dye).

While some of these items may seem trivial, after having one head-cold in the house, it was apparent how quickly used tissues and bathroom products could add up to a significant amount of material!

So, why are used tissues my favorite source of “brown materials” for my compost? Because I’m not yet to the point of reusable tissues, and wow, is it satisfying to take out my bathroom compost with my food scraps. Now the materials I used to throw away have become part of creating beautiful, rich, and ironically healthy, compost.

Compost Blogger: Emma Campbell