Where to throw away tea bags and coffee capsules? Most do it wrong

Proper sorting of waste enables the appropriate use of recyclable products and at the same time develops ecological habits that subsequently benefit the environment. Waste separation is a well-known topic, but we still make many mistakes when it comes to waste separation, especially kitchen scraps. For example, where should tea bags and coffee capsules go? Check that your intuition does not let you down and that you are properly disposing of the small waste that is generated in your kitchen every day.

Waste sorting

We throw many types of waste into containers intuitively, without being 100% sure that they will end up in the right containers. Waste sorting is based on strict rules, and non-compliance or complete abandonment of this form of waste management will result in penalties. It’s worth it not only to avoid higher waste fees, but also to create good habits that, if strengthened year after year, will benefit us all.

Waste sorting consists in separating biodegradable waste, non-recyclable waste and waste that is partially or completely recyclable. You can choose from containers for biological waste (brown), mixed waste (gray or black), metals and plastics (yellow), paper (blue) and glass waste (green).

Where to throw away tea bags?

The first thing that comes to mind is throwing away tea bags in mixed waste containers. If you thought that, you hit the spot. However, sometimes you come across tea bags made from natural materials: paper, plant fibers or, for example, cellulose pulp and natural ingredients. You can easily throw them, together with their contents, into the organic waste bin or home compost.

Of course, both the tea bags and the tea itself can be used for gardening purposes, so before you toss them in the bin, consider whether you could use them.

Remember that not all teas are sold in natural and biodegradable bags. It turns out that quite a lot of products end up on the market and then in our teapots and cups in polypropylene packaging. You must not throw them in biowaste, their place is in the gray (or black) bin among the mixed waste.

Where should I dispose of coffee and tea grounds?

Both tea and coffee, which we drink with such pleasure every day at different times, are nothing but plant products. Their origin, composition and properties mean that even after partial processing, for example heat treatment, they can return to where they came from. What does that mean? You can throw both types of soil in the bin for biological waste, ie biodegradable (under suitable conditions and in a certain time they will break down into their basic components that occur naturally in the soil).

For the same reason, it is worth considering another way of disposing of soil and actually reusing it – in your own garden. Tea grounds are a valuable fertilizer for soil and potted plants. Among others, azaleas, roses and, for example, acid-loving hydrangeas accept tea leaves very well.

The residues extracted from coffee capsules will also come in handy at home if you want to clean heavily soiled surfaces that are not harmed by their abrasive properties. For the same reason, you can use them to prepare a homemade body scrub. Finally, you can use tea grounds to repel pesky insects like ants and mosquitoes. For the latter, definitely try burnt coffee grounds.

Where should I throw away the coffee capsules?

A topic that raises a lot of questions is the disposal of coffee capsules. Intuition tells us that they should go in the mixed waste bin, but this is not the right step. Capsules made of both metal (aluminum) and plastic should be emptied thoroughly after use (decide what to do with the deposits after they are taken out) and disposed of in the metal and plastic bin.

If you are not sure what material the coffee capsules you use in the coffee machine are made of, check their label. Manufacturers include all the necessary information and key markings on them, including those useful for the sorting process – so you can avoid mistakes.

First I make a tea out of them, then I put them under my eyes. Morning discomfort disappears within 5 minutes