5 Eco-Friendly Home & Garden Waste Hacks

London Rubbish Removal Company Rainbow Rubbish Removals is excited to share a surprising and eco-friendly tip for maintaining a pest-free garden and home.

Did you know that up to 75% of used coffee grounds are discarded into landfills each year? Instead of throwing them away, these granules can serve as an effective and natural pest deterrent. This simple reuse not only helps in reducing waste but also contributes to a more sustainable environment​.

With this in mind, Rainbow Rubbish Removals have provided their advice on five common household waste products that can help you maintain your garden this summer.

1 – Coffee grounds for pest control

Coffee grounds are a cost-effective and eco-friendly alternative to commercial pest control products. They have multiple uses for pest control, and you can also use coffee grounds in your compost to enrich your mix, so don’t throw away your used grounds after making your morning coffee.

Instead, simply spread the used coffee grounds around the base of your plant to create a barrier that pests are less likely to cross. You can also use them to deter bugs from coming into your house by placing small bowls of grounds in key areas – just make sure to dry them out first so they don’t go mouldy.

2 – Egg shells for fertiliser

Egg shells are another great waste item you shouldn’t just throw away. Next time you’re making something with eggs, save the shells until you have a decent quantity, making sure to rinse them out when they’re fresh.

Simply dry and crush your eggshells for use in the garden. The sharp edges deter soft-bodied pests like slugs and snails. Additionally, eggshells decompose and add calcium to the soil, which benefits plant growth.

3 – Banana peels for nutrition

Another waste product you should hold onto for your garden is banana peel. Banana peels deteriorate quickly, so you’ll either need to use them fresh, or freeze them until you’re ready to get the job done.

You can either bury whole banana peels around the base of plants, or infuse the peel in water for 2-3 days. Banana peels contain essential nutrients for plant growth, like magnesium, phosphorus, and calcium, which they release as they decompose, enhancing plant health and growth for both indoor and outdoor plants.

4 – Vinegar for weed control

Have you ever spotted an old bottle of vinegar in the back of your cupboard and wondered what to use it for? Well wonder no more as you can repurpose it as a handy weed-killing spray.

Simply use a spray bottle to apply undiluted white vinegar directly to weeds. The acetic acid in vinegar acts as a natural herbicide, effectively killing weeds without harming the environment. This is particularly useful for controlling weeds in pathways and driveways.

5 – Citrus peel for pest repellent 

Finally, don’t throw away your citrus peels – they might come in handy the next time you want to sit out in the garden unbothered by mosquitoes and flies!

For this hack, it’s as simple as scattering citrus peel around your garden. Citrus peels repel pests like flies and mosquitoes due to their strong scent. They can also deter aphids and ants, making them a versatile addition to your garden pest control arsenal.

Credit: https://rainbowrubbishremovals.co.uk.