Beyond Compost: 25 Creative Uses for Kitchen Scraps

Discover 25+ smart, creative uses for kitchen scraps beyond composting. From garden hacks to DIY cleaners, nothing has to go to waste!

A pile of colorful vegetable scraps, including carrot peels, lettuce cores, and onion skins, with a knife and peeler on a kitchen counter.

If you’re like me, your kitchen scraps add up fast—coffee grounds, onion peels, eggshells, carrot tops. It’s easy to toss them in the compost without a second thought. And don’t get me wrong—composting is a great habit. But what if I told you some of those scraps could be doing even more before they hit the pile?

From boosting your garden to feeding your pets, from cleaning your house to adding flavor to your meals, many kitchen scraps have a second life waiting to be tapped. Whether you’re on a tight budget, trying to reduce waste, or just love getting more out of what you already have, these creative ideas go way beyond compost.

Kitchen Scraps That Feed You Again

Not all scraps belong in the trash—or even the compost bin. Some of them are still useful in the kitchen, especially if you like stretching your groceries as far as they’ll go. Here are 12 veggies you can grow from scraps.

Regrow Veggies from Scraps

You can regrow green onions, celery, romaine lettuce, and even carrot tops in a sunny windowsill. Just place the base in a shallow dish of water and watch new growth emerge in a matter of days. It’s not only fun (especially for kids), but it’s a practical way to get more out of your groceries.

Garlic Sprouts as Microgreens

Sprouted garlic cloves can be potted up and used like green onions or chives. The greens have a mild garlicky flavor and make a great garnish for soups or eggs. It’s a simple way to repurpose cloves that are past their prime.

Save Vegetable Peels for Homemade Broth

Keep a freezer bag full of onion skins, garlic ends, carrot peels, celery tops, and herb stems. Once it’s full, toss the scraps into a pot with water and simmer for a rich, flavorful broth. It’s like free soup magic from something you were going to toss.

A glass jar filled with homemade vegetable broth sits next to fresh carrots, onions, and herbs. — Save your veggie scraps to make a rich, homemade broth—delicious, frugal, and waste-free.

Don’t toss those onion ends and carrot peels—learn how to make vegetable broth using saved kitchen scraps to add depth to soups and sauces.

Scraps for the Garden (That Aren’t Compost)

Your garden can benefit from more than finished compost. Some scraps can go straight into the soil—or help your plants thrive in other ways.

Crushed Eggshells for Soil and Pest Control

Crushed eggshells provide a calcium boost to your soil and help deter soft-bodied pests like slugs. Sprinkle them around tomato plants or mix into potting soil. Just be sure they’re dry and crushed finely for the best results.

If you’re looking for more safe, frugal ways to deal with bugs in the garden, these natural pest control tips that actually work will give you a great head start.

Coffee Grounds as Fertilizer

Used coffee grounds are rich in nitrogen and can be sprinkled directly around acid-loving plants like blueberries, roses, and hydrangeas. They also help improve soil texture. Just avoid piling them on too thick or you’ll end up with a moldy mess.

A spoonful of used coffee grounds being added to the soil of a potted plant. — Used coffee grounds can feed your plants—just sprinkle a little in your containers or garden beds.

Banana Peels for Plant Boosts

Chop banana peels and bury them near the base of plants for a slow-release potassium source. You can also soak peels in water for a few days and use the liquid as a fertilizer “tea.” Tomatoes, peppers, and houseplants love it.

Banana peels are just one of many pantry staples that can boost your plants. Check out these other frugal garden fixes hiding in your kitchen.

Potato Peels as a Trap Crop

Believe it or not, potato peels can be used to trap pests like wireworms in your garden beds. Bury a handful where you plan to plant and check it in a few days—discard the peel and pests before you sow seeds. It’s like setting a sneaky bait station, but make sure you remove them quickly before they rot.

Scraps for Cleaning and Household Use

Before you reach for store-bought cleaners or toss another peel, try putting your scraps to work around the house. Some make surprisingly effective and chemical-free solutions.

Citrus Peels for Homemade Cleaner

Fill a mason jar with vinegar and citrus peels (lemon, lime, orange). Let it steep for 2–3 weeks, strain, and pour into a spray bottle. It makes a powerful all-purpose cleaner that smells way better than straight vinegar.

Want more ways to clean naturally? Here’s how to make your own household cleaning products using everyday ingredients you already have.

Cucumber Peels for Cleaning Stainless Steel

Rub the inside of a cucumber peel on faucets, sinks, or appliances to remove streaks. It leaves stainless steel shiny and clean with no chemicals needed. Bonus—it smells fresh too.

Onion Skins as Natural Dye

Don’t throw away those papery layers! Boil them to create a natural dye for fabric, yarn, or Easter eggs. You’ll get beautiful shades of gold, rust, or orange depending on the onion and material.

Onion skins create stunning earthy colors, especially around Easter. Try these simple recipes for making natural dyes in a variety of hues.

Scraps That Feed Animals

Whether you raise chickens or just want to make your dog a homemade treat, some kitchen leftovers can become quality animal feed.

Chickens Love Leftovers

Quail, chickens, and ducks can eat a wide variety of fruit and veggie scraps. Avoid anything moldy, salty, or processed, but carrot peels, squash guts, and apple cores are fair game. It’s an easy way to supplement their diet and reduce waste.

A brown chicken pecks through food scraps and garden waste inside a fenced area. — Let your chickens turn kitchen scraps into rich compost—while getting a snack in the process.

Chickens are surprisingly good at handling kitchen scraps—and they’ll turn them into compost for you. Here’s why you might want to let your chickens do your composting.

Start a Worm Bin

Worms love banana peels, coffee grounds, and shredded veggie scraps. Vermicomposting creates rich worm castings for your garden, and it’s a great project for small spaces. You don’t need a fancy setup—just a bin, bedding, and kitchen scraps.

Curious about vermicomposting? Here’s a simple breakdown of why you should try composting with worms, even on a small scale.

Make Homemade Dog Treats

Use leftover pumpkin puree, sweet potato, or bits of cooked meat to make simple DIY dog biscuits. Mix with oats, an egg, and a little flour to form a dough, then bake. Just double-check that all your ingredients are safe for dogs (no onions, garlic, or xylitol).

If you like the idea of using food scraps in homemade pet treats, try these apple oatmeal dog treats your pup will love.

Scraps for DIY Projects and Crafts

Get a little creative with your scraps and you’ll find they’re not just useful—they’re beautiful, too. These ideas are fun for gifts, hobbies, and weekend projects.

Herb Stems for Homemade Sachets

Save woody herb stems like rosemary, thyme, or lavender. Dry and tuck them into homemade sachets or drawer fresheners. They’re great for gifting or keeping linen closets smelling fresh.

Want to make your own scented sachets? Here’s a step-by-step guide to the best herbs for sachets and how to turn them into natural drawer or closet fresheners.

Avocado Pits for Natural Dye

Boil avocado pits to make a soft pink natural dye for fabric or paper. It sounds strange, but the tannins in the pits create a lovely color. Perfect for handmade cards, cloth napkins, or kid crafts.

Carrot Tops for Pesto

Don’t toss those frilly green carrot tops! They make a tasty, slightly earthy pesto when blended with garlic, lemon juice, nuts or seeds, and olive oil. Serve it over pasta or as a sandwich spread for a farm-to-table twist.

A bowl of vibrant green carrot top pesto next to a plate of roasted carrots. — Don’t ditch the tops—turn carrot greens into a flavorful pesto that pairs perfectly with roasted veggies.

Don’t throw out those tops! This easy carrot top pesto recipe is a great way to turn scraps into a flavorful, nutrient-dense sauce.

Seed Shells as Mulch

Sunflower seed shells or peanut shells can be used as mulch in flower beds or garden paths. They break down slowly and help suppress weeds. Just make sure they’re unsalted and from organic snacks if possible.

Beauty and Self-Care from Scraps

You don’t need fancy spa products when your kitchen is full of skin-loving ingredients. These scrap-based beauty ideas are simple and soothing.

Oat and Banana Face Mask

An overripe banana and a handful of oats can become a nourishing DIY face mask. Mash together and apply for 10–15 minutes. It’s soothing, hydrating, and gently exfoliating.

For more easy ideas that pamper your skin without the price tag, try one of these homemade face masks for glowing skin.

Cucumber Ends for Puffy Eyes

The classic beauty trick still works—keep cucumber scraps in the fridge and use them under your eyes to reduce puffiness. They’re especially refreshing in summer or after a long day in the garden.

Strawberry Tops for Skin Toner

Strawberry tops steeped in witch hazel create a simple, homemade toner packed with antioxidants. Let them infuse for a few days in the fridge, then strain and apply with a cotton pad.

Scraps for Seed Starting and Gardening Hacks

Some scraps can give your garden a head start long before the season begins. From seed starting to pest control, these tricks help close the loop between kitchen and soil.

Eggshells as Seed Starters

Fill half an eggshell with potting soil and start seeds right inside. When it’s time to transplant, just crush the shell lightly and plant the whole thing. The shell adds calcium to the soil as it breaks down.

Young seedlings growing in eggshell halves, arranged neatly in a recycled egg carton outdoors. — Eggshells make perfect biodegradable seed-starting pots—plus, they add calcium to your garden soil.

Cucumber Peels as Pest Repellent

Cucumber peels can repel ants and cockroaches. Place a few strips where you’ve seen pests and replace every few days. It’s not foolproof, but it can be part of a natural pest control plan.

Herb Stems for Rooting

Leftover stems from basil, mint, or oregano can be rooted in water and planted to grow again. Place them in a glass on the windowsill and watch the roots appear. Free plants from dinner scraps? Yes, please.

Troubleshooting Your Zero-Waste Journey

You can freeze many types of scraps until you’re ready to use them—this works especially well for veggie scraps destined for broth, fruit peels for vinegar, or overripe bananas for baking. Store them in labeled freezer bags or airtight containers. For items like citrus peels or eggshells used for cleaning or gardening, allow them to fully dry before storing in a jar or paper bag in a cool, dry spot.

Yes—though not in every case. Citrus peels can replace commercial cleaners, coffee grounds can replace exfoliating scrubs, and veggie scraps can make broth better than boxed versions. While not every swap is 1:1, many scraps do reduce your need for purchased goods.

This one’s hotly debated. In moderation, citrus and onion scraps can be composted—but too much may slow decomposition or repel worms. Chop them up small, mix well into your pile, and balance with plenty of “browns” like leaves or cardboard.

Don’t toss those scraps—pin this guide and put them to work!

A messy pile of vegetable peels, onion skins, and carrot tops on a cutting board next to a peeler and kitchen knife.

Even if you’re already composting, it’s worth slowing down and thinking: can I squeeze a little more value out of this first? With just a bit of planning and creativity, those everyday scraps can do double duty before they hit the bin.

What’s the most unexpected way you’ve used kitchen scraps? Share your favorite trick—or one you’re excited to try—in the comments below. I’d love to hear how you make the most of every bit.