bread

Can bread go in the organic waste bin?

Bread consists mainly of flour and is therefore a natural, organic food. As such, it is biodegradable and you can easily dispose of it in the organic waste bin. It doesn’t matter whether it’s fresh bread, leftovers or even mouldy bread.

During composting, the organic materials in the bread are completely decomposed by microorganisms and microbes. This releases valuable nutrients that later serve as natural fertiliser for your plants. By disposing of bread in the organic waste bin, these important nutrients are kept in circulation.

Even if your bread is already mouldy, you don’t have to throw it in the residual waste. You can also put mouldy bread in your organic waste without hesitation. The mould also decomposes in the composting process and is not a problem from a hygiene point of view. However, as a precaution, you should dispose of heavily mouldy bread halves in a paper bag or wrapped in special organic waste bags. This will prevent the formation and spread of mould spores in your organic waste bin.

However, there are a few exceptions when bread shouldn't go in the organic waste bin:

Very greasy or strongly flavoured bread, such as garlic bread, can disrupt the composting process. In this case, it is advisable to dispose of the bread scraps in the residual waste. The same applies to bread scraps with meat or cheese toppings, which can impair biodegradation in the compost.

In some regions, it is also not permitted to put slightly mouldy bread in the organic waste bin. It is best to find out the exact rules in your city or municipality from your local waste disposal company beforehand.

Alternatives to disposing of bread scraps in the organic waste bin

You can, for example, scatter old bread scraps outside as welcome food for birds and other garden inhabitants. Or you can dry leftover bread and grind it into breadcrumbs. These can be used wonderfully as breadcrumbs for fried dishes or to sprinkle in casserole dishes.

To summarise, in most cases the organic waste bin is the right place for your old loaves, leftover bread and slightly mouldy loaves. They contribute to the production of high-quality compost and thus prevent unnecessary food waste. As long as the bread scraps do not contain any fats or meat components, the organic waste bin is the most sustainable disposal method.