Can You Compost Eggs?
Yes, with care. Whole eggs, raw or cooked, will compost, but they smell as they rot and attract animals. Crack them, bury them deep in the center of an enclosed pile, and add only a few at a time.
At a glance
| Home compost pile | With care |
|---|---|
| Green or brown | Green (nitrogen-rich) |
| Moisture | Wet |
| Prep | Bury in the center of the pile |
| Worm bin | With care |
| Bokashi | Yes |
How to compost eggs
Crack raw eggs into the center of the pile, or chop hard-boiled ones, then bury them 8–12 in (20–30 cm) deep under browns. Add a few at a time, not a whole carton. Unbroken eggs can sit intact for a long time and smell when they finally crack.
Send large amounts of expired eggs to bokashi or municipal collection. The shells are a straightforward yes.
What goes wrong
Rotting eggs give off a sulfur smell and attract raccoons, skunks and dogs. If that happens, cover the spot with a thick layer of browns and stop adding eggs to that pile. Bokashi is the easy fix for a batch of expired eggs.
Worm bins and bokashi
Worm bin: Skip raw eggs in worm bins; a little chopped cooked egg is tolerated, and crushed shells are welcome.
Bokashi: Eggs ferment well in bokashi, raw or cooked.
This counts as a green. Adding a lot of it? Check the balance with the compost mix calculator.
From hopcompost.com/can-you-compost/eggs/ · General guidance, not professional advice.
Frequently asked questions
Can you compost rotten eggs?
Yes, in small numbers, cracked and buried deep in an enclosed pile. Expect a smell if they end up near the surface.
Can you compost hard-boiled eggs?
Yes, chopped and buried like other cooked food. The shells go in too.
Can you compost egg cartons?
Plain molded-paper cartons, yes: tear them up and count them as a brown, like cardboard. Foam and plastic cartons, no.