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Can You Compost Pistachio Shells? (And Are They Biodegradable?)

Pistachio-Shells

When someone tells you ‘you must be nuts!’, do you get mad or feel bad about yourself? Well, don’t! Nuts are known to contain essential nutrients and can aid weight loss and heart and gut health. Some of the world’s most famous nuts include peanuts, walnuts, almonds, cashews, macadamia, Brazil nuts, hazelnuts and of course pistachios. pistachio shell

Pistachio nuts are not only tasty and fun to eat but also super healthy. They contain healthy fats and are a good source of protein, fiber, and antioxidants. Apart from the nutty and sweet part that is consumed, the other common thing with the pistachio is the exterior shell. They are not edible and are most likely thrown away or used for decorative purposes. This article looks into composting pistachio shells and tries to explain if they can be composted.

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Are Pistachio Shells Compostable?

Luckily for you, pistachio shells are compostable. Nutshells like pistachio shells are good for composting. Using compost, including that made of pistachio shells, is one of the best ways to nourish your plants.

Not only does it retain moisture, enrich the soil, and fight against insects and plant diseases, compost is better for the environment than many commercially produced fertilizers. Compost also lowers your carbon footprint by reducing the use of chemical fertilizers.

The shells may take a few years to decompose, so they make the compost less heavy, even though they add bulk. Pistachio shells also help with water retention. The compost might not be applicable for use for sowing small seeds or potting on delicate baby plants, but the shells can make good compost, fine for your vegetable patch or flower beds.

You should be careful not to add the shells as a whole as they are directly into the composting bin. If you add them whole, be prepared to wait for two years or more before they completely decompose. Instead of simply tossing them like that, be sure to crush them first. If they are broken into pieces or a fine powder, they decompose more quickly.

You should also use unsalted pistachio shells for the composting bin or pile. Salted pistachios are not bad while in the bin unless you are composting only a few and if the pile is large enough. Too much salt in the composting bin will contaminate the soil. The salt also kills any microorganisms and natural bacteria in the compost, delaying the composting process.

As such, to be on the safer side, just use unsalted pistachio nut shells in your compost. You can also soak the salted shells overnight to get the salt off the shells. Oh, and for the record, other nuts and nut shells can be used in the compost bin, but then again, avoid salted nuts and nutshells.

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Pistachio shells are a terrific bulky ‘brown’ material for compost. Browns are materials that are carbon-rich and will add structure to your compost and aeration to the pile. They are hard and slow to degrade, but you can speed up the process considerably by crushing them up before tossing them in.

Another option is to soak whole shells in a bucket of water overnight to soften them. The next day, dump the pistachio shells, along with the water, into your compost heap.

Composting pistachio shells reduces the levels of methane emissions from landfills, reduces the need to use chemical fertilizers and encourages the production of beneficial fungi and bacteria that break down organic matter to create humus. Composting also helps the soil retain moisture, enriches it, and suppresses pests and plant diseases.