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I have read that one shouldn't compost nuts or peanut butter because of their high oil and fat content. I am wondering if the same thing goes for peanut shells? I have a lot of peanut shells and I hope I can compost with them rather than throw them away.

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3 Answers 3

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Yes, peanut shells are a fine high-carbon addition to your compost pile. Adding peanut shells to your compost will probably tend to dry it out, so make sure you either add water or use enough high-moisture ingredients (e.g. most kitchen scraps or coffee grounds). Also, if you're lacking in high-nitrogen ingredients, then they will take longer to compost.

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Yes, peanut shells can be compostable, but be sure that there is no salt on them. Often peanut shells have been salted, and these should not be added to compost because the salt will stay in the soil and damage plants.

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+1 Like most things, a salted peanut isn't going to harm it (as a few salted potato chips aren't) but don't go adding a whole bag of them! –  winwaed Jan 22 '12 at 2:48
You can of course, rinse the salt off first. –  psusi Jan 31 '12 at 15:36

Yes, peanut hulls compost well, but if you have quite a lot, I know from experience they work great as mulch. I live in "Peanut Country" so peanut hulls are available here and they work great!!

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