Gardening Expert Issues Crucial Warning About Tea Bag Composting
Renowned gardening specialist Simon Akeroyd has delivered an important advisory for home gardeners and composting enthusiasts across the UK. Through his popular TikTok platform, where he regularly shares horticultural insights, Akeroyd has highlighted a common but potentially harmful practice: disposing of used tea bags directly into compost heaps.
The Hidden Dangers in Your Tea Bag
"If you're like me and drink lots of tea, it's a good idea to save the tea bags," Akeroyd acknowledged in his recent video presentation. However, he immediately cautioned against simply tossing them onto compost piles. The gardening expert explained that most conventional tea bags contain materials that fail to decompose properly in domestic composting systems.
"The material that most tea bags are made of does not decompose and they contain micro-plastics," Akeroyd emphasised, pointing to a significant environmental concern that many gardeners might overlook in their sustainable practices.
Expert-Recommended Alternative Approach
Rather than discarding tea bags entirely, Akeroyd proposes a simple yet effective method to harness their benefits while avoiding contamination. He recommends tearing open each tea bag and allowing the damp leaves to dry thoroughly before application in the garden.
"Once they're dry, they can be sprinkled around the base of your plants," the gardening specialist advised. This technique offers multiple advantages for plant health and garden maintenance.
The approach proves beneficial thanks to several key factors:
- Natural pest deterrent: Dried tea leaves contain tannin, which is believed to help repel slugs and snails from vulnerable plants
- Nutrient enrichment: Tea leaves provide valuable nutrients that gradually feed plants as they break down in the soil
- Soil conditioning: When incorporated into garden beds, dried tea leaves improve soil structure and moisture retention
Supporting Expert Opinion and Important Considerations
Christopher O'Donoghue of Gardens Revived corroborates Akeroyd's guidance, telling Ideal Home magazine: "Many modern tea bags are made with synthetic materials like polypropylene to seal them, which doesn't break down in compost and can leave microplastics in your soil."
O'Donoghue further noted that some tea bags, particularly those designed to maintain their shape during brewing, may be treated with bleach or other chemicals that could leach into compost and subsequently affect soil quality and plant health.
The gardening experts provide these essential recommendations for conscientious tea bag disposal:
- Check packaging carefully for brands that explicitly state their tea bags are compostable or made from natural fibres
- Tear open bags to compost only the tea leaves if uncertain about bag materials
- Avoid flavoured or coated varieties that may contain synthetic, non-compostable components
Practical Applications and Gardener Responses
When questioned about indoor plant applications, Akeroyd confirmed that his dried tea leaf method works equally well for houseplants, expanding the technique's usefulness beyond traditional outdoor gardening.
Social media responses to the advice have been overwhelmingly positive, with one TikTok user exclaiming: "Oh amazing! I've been wanting to do something recycle worthy with my tea bags. Thank you!" This reaction highlights the growing public interest in sustainable gardening practices that minimise environmental impact while maximising resource efficiency.
While O'Donoghue acknowledges there are exceptions—some tea bag brands do use fully compostable materials—both experts stress the importance of verification before composting. They encourage gardeners to develop the habit of checking tea bag packaging and erring on the side of caution when uncertain about material composition.
This guidance comes at a time when many UK households are increasingly embracing composting as part of broader environmental sustainability efforts, making such practical advice particularly valuable for reducing microplastic contamination in home-grown produce and maintaining healthy garden ecosystems.
