How to Compost Citrus Peels

Composting all food waste and yard trimmings, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, would reduce the nation’s municipal solid waste stream by 26 percent. At the same time as you trim the amount of waste sent to the landfill, you can turn orange, lemon, lime and other types of citrus peels into fertile soil for your food or flower garden. Citrus peels are particularly healthy additives to a composting system that contains worms, as they provide nutrients to the worms.

Things You'll Need

• Citrus peels
• Old scissors
• Old bucket with lid or composting container
• Wood chips, old leaves or straw

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Instructions

• 1

  Cut the citrus peels into smaller pieces, about 1 inch-by-1 inch, to help them decompose more quickly.

• 2

  Place the peels into an old bucket and replace the lid. If your prefer, use a kitchen composting container made specially for that purpose. Put the bucket or container in an out-of-the-way location, such as under the kitchen sink. Throughout the day, add other compostable items, such as coffee grounds, crushed eggshells or hair, to the bucket.

• 3

  Empty the compost bucket into your outside compost bin or heap every evening. Be sure to occasionally add carbon-containing materials, like wood chips, dry leaves or straw, to counteract the high nitrogen content of the materials in the bucket. The ideal ratio, according to Colorado State University Extension, is two parts “green” material, including citrus peels, to one part “brown” material, including wood chips and straw.