Eggshell Waste Recycling

Best Way To Recycle Eggshells

Whether they are cooked scrambled, over-easy, hardboiled, sunny side up, or some other style, most people get some of their protein from eggs. Eggs are a good source of protein, and are viewed by many as one of the healthiest foods people can eat. In fact, it is estimated that in 2018 that Americans ate nearly 280 eggs per person! However, that massive amount of egg consumption also results in a massive amount of egg shells. Most of which end up in the trash bin where they will take up space in local landfills. But what people should know is that there are a lot of really useful things that can be done when it comes to recycling eggshells. So let’s take a look at how recycling egg shells into many uses can be fun and environmentally friendly!

Utilization of Egg Shell Waste

Cool Uses For Eggshells

  • Face Scrub
  • Crafts With Children 
  • Drain Cleaner
  • Keep Snails Off Outdoor Garden
  • Fertilizer 
  • Bird Feed

Eggshell Waste Recycling

When it comes to eggshell waste recycling probably the best place for used eggshells is the garden. This is because used eggshells can be used for fertilizer, organic pest control, and more. Start by collecting eggshells, cleaning them, and placing the used eggshells into a bowl. Preferably eggs should be placed in an open container where they can air dry. Once the container is full, take the dried out eggs and crush them into tiny bits with a handheld kitchen tool such as a wooden spoon or blender. After that, it is time to take the eggshells to the garden!

Eggshell Fertilizer

Eggshell fertilizer

Once you are ready to use the eggshell as compost for your garden the first thing you will want to do is take the pieces of eggshell and till them into soil. Eggshells are composed of calcium carbonate so by tilling the pieces of used eggshell in the dirt you can introduce the mineral to the soil in a healthy and organic way. One fo the benefits of eggshells in a garden is that they can reduce acidity in soil while also providing an easy method to aerate a garden.

How long does an egg take to decompose in a garden? Eggshell decomposition varies on a number of different factors but most people can expect the calcium carbonate material to be broken down in a home garden within a couple months.

For more information on cool ways to use eggshells in the garden check out this article by Real Farmacy!

Eggshell Powder Benefits

Eggshell waste recycling in the garden is a great way to turn potential trash into useful compost, but what can non-gardeners do with use eggshells? The answer is that egg shells can be utilized as an organic calcium supplement. The truth is as people age their teeth can become weaker and bones turn more brittle. This is why it is important to monitor calcium intake, and a place where eggshell powder can be truly beneficial. Here are the steps to using eggshells calcium in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis and other calcium-related health issues.

  1. Sanitize eggshells by baking them at 350F (15 minutes)
  2. Grind eggshells down (or blend) until they are a fine powder
  3. Place eggshell powder into capsules for consumption

Recycling eggshells in a garden or using the grounded up eggshell pieces as a calcium supplement are just two of the cool ways people are taking potential trash and turning it into a healthy alternative. Every little thing people can do to reduce waste can have a positive impact on the environment, but also personal health with the help of eggshell recycling!