Food leftovers are thrown in the organic bin, but in the case of clam shells, things are different. The material they are made of is in fact not suitable for organic recycling processes and for the machinery dedicated to it. On the contrary, we will have to dispose of them differently, so that the separate collection suggested by our municipality is respected.
These are food residues, but they are different from vegetable and fruit peels: for this reason the clam shells make us ask the question about the exact disposal. Usually food scraps end up in the organic waste bin. But in this case knowing where they are thrown away is not a given and changes our perspectives.
The organic waste bag, as mentioned, is not the right one for disposal, as the material that the mussel shells are made of is not suitable for landfill collection processes. Usually the machines used to grind and compost waste are not designed for this type of waste.
In fact, these are mineral aggregates based on calcium carbonate, a material that is common to mussel and clam shells, which is usually not considered suitable for composting. This raises doubts about the correct separate collection of this type of waste, which we often find in our kitchens, but we do not know for sure where to throw it.
Spaghetti allo scoglio brings the sea to the table, we know, but then comes the time to eliminate the leftovers and sort the shells in the correct way. If our municipality of residence does not provide different instructions, the collection bin is only one, as we will see, but also with some alternative recycling solutions.
Clam shells, where they are thrown
Il conferral of clam shells and other mussels is precise: you wash away the grease and food residues and throw them in the gray bin for unsorted waste. We have said it and we repeat it, organic waste is not the right bag for this type of waste, as the shells are not considered biodegradable waste.
But some municipalities of residence may admit this type of disposal, a sign that the machinery for the shredding and composting processes guarantee the dissolution of the mineral elements. The doubt can be resolved by taking a look at the reference site of your city to know how to eliminate them without errors.
If we want some ideas to not throw away but recycle, mollusc shells are also beautiful if we want to make marine crafts. We can in fact paint them and use them to make marine-themed jewelry, or even decorate photo frames or mirrors, or use them to embellish the covers of photo books and holiday albums.
It should also be remembered that the calcium carbonate that clam shells are made of can help us in home gardening. In fact, if we grind these scraps and add them to normal compost, we will make it more efficient in giving strength to the soil and the plants housed there.
Calcium carbonate is an excellent fertilizer, but it also acts as a corrective for too acidic soilswhich could not accommodate certain types of plants. If the pH of the garden soil is acidic, adding calcium is an effective strategy to alkalinize it. The shrubs will be happy and we will have recycled a waste in a simple and clever way.
Sources
Source: www.greenstyle.it
