I have been putting them in the compost heap but a recent article I read about a scientist burying hundreds of them with the intent of measuring the decomposition of their contents over time leads me to question my belief.
budgel,
Feb 2, 3:00pm
Have you found any intact when you came to use the compost? I have been putting my used teabags in the compost for years. If you tear the paper when composting them, the tea decomposes and any paper left is insignificant when dug into the garden, or can be lifted out if you are bothered by it. The paper has to be quite strong to do its job when making tea.
oh_hunnihunni,
Feb 2, 3:17pm
Rip and toss. Occasionally I find an empty one blowing around, but rarely, and I do mulch with an awful lot of the things. The garden loves them!
ianab,
Feb 2, 4:08pm
Paper and leaves. It's going to break down eventually.
Note the science experiment is How FAST they biodegrade.
Bury then in a peat swamp and it might be a thousand years. In a nicly working compost pile, 6 months and they are going to be nice and composty.
oh_hunnihunni,
Feb 2, 4:11pm
Btw, cowslips love the tea leaves. Best display I ever had was when I was into teapot brews!
lythande1,
Feb 2, 6:12pm
No, the paper seems to contain artificial fibres and don't decompose. I now empty them into a container and then dump the leaves only into the compost.
kaiser2,
Feb 3, 4:09am
Thanks for your advice and information everyone.
deboron,
Feb 3, 4:49pm
I have a pot by my back door which I drain the teapot into and break open the used bags and add the leave too. It is a good plant tonic.
bluefrog2,
Feb 3, 6:43pm
Hmm. Didn't realise about the artificial fibres. Must go check the teabags in my pantry. I find teabags break down fine in my compost bin, but not so well in the worm bin.
firefly001,
Feb 3, 10:30pm
I used to find Choysa round bags took a long time to decompose but haven't bought them for ages. Pams don't take that long
kaylin,
Feb 3, 11:15pm
I put them in my worm farm and they get eaten.
mustu,
Jul 22, 2:24pm
Mine go through the compost bins then into the garden, but I find the 'paper' is still reasonably intact for several years after that.
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