Garbage disposals are incredibly useful, albeit fussy, machines. Contrary to popular belief, your garbage disposal is not a garbage can. There are certain things you should never try to force down your disposal—including this everyday staple that seems safer than it is.
Why You Shouldn’t Put Coffee Grounds Down Your Garbage Disposal
Coffee made with a filter or pod makes cleanup easy, since you can simply remove and discard the entire used filter or pod. But if you use an espresso machine or French press, you’re probably tempted to run those coffee grounds down your sink.
We’re here with a PSA: It’s time to stop pouring coffee grounds down the garbage disposal.
You’ve probably noticed that ground coffee tends to expand when it comes into contact with water. That’s because it contains a lot of carbon dioxide, and hot water speeds up the release of that gas. On top of that, no matter how fine the grind, coffee grounds tend to clump together—making them a gritty, water-absorbing mass that’s the last thing you want in your pipes.
“Once wet, it doesn’t become dry very easily so it’s quick to grow new life while it swells and smells, making it a true kitchen pipe nightmare,” says Dale Donchey, founder and owner of Atlanta-based coffee shop Spiller Park Coffee. “[Ground coffee is] more likely to muck up the swirling parts of the garbage disposal than become even smaller.”
Don’t believe us? Ask a plumber. Roto-Rooter also advises against putting coffee grounds down the garbage disposal. “When coffee grounds…are ground up, their particles take on a sand-like consistency that can cause pipe obstructions,” Roto-Rooter’s blog reads. Save yourself the headache and hundreds of dollars, and keep your coffee grounds away from your kitchen sink.
The Best Way to Dispose of Coffee Grounds
Dotdash Meredith / Janet Maples
The best way to get rid of used coffee grounds is actually to repurpose them as compost. Coffee grounds are rich in nitrogen, which plants love, and adding them to your compost rotation will jump-start your garden.
Don’t have a yard? You can also sprinkle coffee grounds on certain houseplants (Check out this guide from our friends at Real Simple first!), use them to kill garden pests, or stick some in your fridge to neutralize odors. Or, for a bigger impact, donate them to a community garden or gift them to your neighbor with an especially green thumb.
Coffee grounds are biodegradable, so it’s perfectly fine to toss them in the trash. If you brew with a French press, you can also line it with a paper filter to make cleanup easier. Donchey recommends adding a little water to the pot, giving it a swirl, then pouring the contents into a fine strainer. Use a silicone tool, like a jar spatula, to scrape out any remaining grounds before disposing of them.