Avocados are more popular than ever, but all those nutrient-rich pits can pile up in the trash. As an avid guacamole maker and avocado toast fan, I used to toss out avocado pits without a second thought. But now I know that composting the pits is an eco-friendly way to reduce kitchen waste.
After doing some research, I was surprised to learn that avocado pits are completely compostable. Turning this underutilized food scrap into garden goodness helps close the loop by returning food waste to the soil.
In this in-depth guide, I’ll explain everything you need to know about composting avocado pits at home. You’ll learn why it’s beneficial, tips for effective pit composting, and how to troubleshoot any problems. I’ll also cover creative ways to use the pits before tossing them in the compost pile.
Why Compost Avocado Pits?
Composting food waste like avocado pits is beneficial for several reasons:
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Reduces the amount of organic waste sent to landfills. Over one third of what’s tossed from homes is compostable.
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Closes the loop by returning nutrients from food scraps back to the soil to feed plants.
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The carbon-rich pits provide an ideal balance with nitrogen-rich plant and food waste in compost.
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Prevents slow-to-decompose pits from lingering in the environment. Active composting speeds breakdown.
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Produces nutritious compost to improve soil health and fertility in gardens and for houseplants.
Are Avocado Pits Compostable?
Yes, avocado pits are 100% compostable. The thick outer skin or peel is also compostable. I don’t recommend including pits from conventionally grown avocados if you plan to use the finished compost on edible plants.
Avocado pits are considered a carbon-rich “brown” addition to compost. Their woody composition balances out nitrogen-rich “green” waste. The main drawback is their slow pace of decomposition. But with the right conditions, even large pits will eventually break down into usable compost.
Tips for Effective Avocado Pit Composting
Composting avocado pits is straightforward if you follow some basic guidelines:
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Dry pits thoroughly – Remove all flesh so pits don’t get slimy. Air dry or briefly roast in the oven.
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Chop into small pieces – Break whole pits into 1-2 inch chunks using a hammer or cleaver. This drastically speeds decomposition.
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Bury pits in the center – Place deep in the hot compost core for optimal breakdown. Cover with nitrogen-rich greens.
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Maintain proper moisture – The compost should be damp but not soaked. Turn piles to aerate and replenish moisture.
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Include diverse materials – Balance woody pits with a variety of greens and browns like plant waste, leaves, and paper.
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Let compost mature – Ensure pits fully decompose before using finished compost. May take over a year due to hardness.
Creative Uses for Pits Before Composting
Before composting avocado pits, consider reusing them in these fun and practical ways:
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Re-growing avocados – Suspend pits in water to root, then plant in soil to grow mini trees.
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Natural fabric dye – Simmer pits to extract a pink dye for dying textiles.
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Skin-soothing bath soak – Boil pits and add to bath water for a moisturizing, silky soak.
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Fuzzy slippers – Stuff peeled pits inside old socks for soft, conditioned feet overnight.
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Arts and crafts – Kids can make critter sculptures, characters, and stamps using pits.
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Unique stamps – Ink up the cut side of a peeled pit to make artsy prints on paper.
Troubleshooting Avocado Pit Composting
You may encounter a few problems when composting avocado pits:
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Pits stay intact – Increase turning and moisture to facilitate breakdown in the pile.
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Pits grow mold – Add browns like leaves or straw to absorb excess moisture and improve airflow.
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Pits attract pests – Chop pits into smaller pieces to make them less enticing to rodents and animals.
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Slow decomposition – After 8-12 months, sift out remaining chunks and rebury in active compost.
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Bad odors – Adjust the brown to green ratio by adding carbon-rich waste to balance nitrogen levels.
With attentive pile management, troubleshooting is easy. Make any needed adjustments to maintain optimal composting conditions.
Using Finished Avocado Pit Compost
Allow compost enriched with avocado pits to mature for 8-12 months before using. Test that decomposition is complete by digging in and looking for recognizable pit chunks.
Mature compost makes a nutritious addition to gardens and potting mixes. Blend it into soil for:
- Houseplants and seed starting
- Topdressing containers
- Garden beds
- Compost tea
- Flower beds, trees, shrubs
- Mulch for veggies
- Backfill soil when transplanting
Don’t Let Avocado Pits Go To Waste
As an avid avocado eater, composting the pits is a no-brainer for reducing my kitchen waste. With the right conditions, this common food byproduct makes a valuable contribution to the home compost pile. It takes a little time and effort, but it’s rewarding to turn trash into garden treasure.
Sprouting Avocado Pits in the Compost Bin
FAQ
How to dispose of an avocado pit?
A straightforward approach is to throw the pit into your regular trash bin. However, for a more sustainable option, composting is an excellent choice. Avocado pits are organic materials that can be incorporated into a compost bin or pile.
Can you do anything with avocado pits?
Dehydrate the avocado pits in a low oven for a couple of hours or leave on a sunlit window sill for a day or two. Once dried, blitz in a food processor or place in a bag and bash with a rolling pin, then blend. Use it in smoothies, to bake bread or on your salads.
Do avocado stones decompose?
Avocado stones can be slow to break down in compost, often taking 6-12 months or more to decompose. Even if the rest of the compost is ready, it’s generally okay to add it to your garden, as the stones will continue to break down in the soil. They may even sprout into new avocado trees, although this is rare.
Can you put an avocado pit in soil?
When the root is a few centimetres long, you can take the pit out of the bag and continue growing in water or potting soil. We like to grow our avocados in water (hydroponics), perched on our specially designed porcelain germination plates.
Can You compost avocado pits?
Yes! You can compost avocado pits, avocado skins, and even unusable or brown avocado meat. However, avocado skins tend to be slow to decompose. To speed up the process, cut the peels into small squares with kitchen scissors before adding them to your composter.
Can You compost avocado after making guacamole?
After you’ve made guacamole or avocado toast, can you compost avocado? Yes, you can compost avocado. However, the flesh, rinds, and pit decompose at different rates so you’ll want to cut up the rind, and break down the pit before tossing it in the compost bin. Avocados are a “green” compost ingredient rich in nitrogen.
Can You compost avocado skins?
When the seedling is ready to be transplanted to a garden bed or larger pot, you can bury the avocado skin right in the soil — voila! Built-in compost! If you’re not composting, that’s OK: You can still reuse your avocado pits and skins in these other ways.
Can avocados be composted?
All parts of an avocado can be composted (albeit with a few extra steps for the rind and seed). The flesh: Green and succulent, avocado flesh breaks down quickly in a compost. The skin: With its tough bumpy skin, perhaps it’s not too surprising that avocado is sometimes called the alligator pear.
How do you compost an avocado seed?
The best way to compost an avocado seed is to break it down. There are a couple ways to do this: Smash it with a hammer: This is the quickest, and probably most fun method—take your anger out on an avocado seed before tossing it in the compost bin.
How do you decompose avocados?
However, avocado skins tend to be slow to decompose. To speed up the process, cut the peels into small squares with kitchen scissors before adding them to your composter. Avocado pits take even longer to break down — grind them up before adding them to your composter.