Coffee grounds are a disgusting thing to have in your sink. As a matter of fact, you shouldn’t have coffee grounds in your sink at all. But do you know if it is safe to just pour coffee grounds down the drain? Coffee grounds are a type of waste produced during the preparation of coffee and consists of the ground-up, dried beans that we discard after making coffee. It’s not as difficult to dispose of as you might think. One way is to put waste in your compost bin, which ensures it decomposes quickly. The following are some of the reasons why you should not put coffee grounds down the sink;
1. It can cause corrosion
The reason why you shouldn’t just pour coffee into the sink is that as a waste product, it contains a lot of acid. The acid nature of the coffee grounds can lead to corrosion on the pipes and other parts of your sink. This will need you to spend more money on repairs and maintenance later on.
2. It’s not good for the environment
Coffee grounds contain a lot of acid. And every time you put them down the drain, they add to the acid in your waste water. When you combine this with all the other things people pour down their drains, it makes our water acidic. It can also lead to algae growth in water bodies. Algae growth is not only bad for swimming but can also affect the health of fish living in those waters. The fish will die and the water will become polluted and unfit for swimming or even drinking!
3. Your pipes may become clogged
Coffee grounds are extremely hard to remove from your sink once they’re dried up and solidified. They can also clog up your pipes and clog them up over time. This will not only lead to a reputation problem for you but also the fact that you will be having unnecessary problems while trying to use your kitchen sink. This can also lead to a lack of flow in your drains and cause water wastage.
4. It smells badly
Again, coffee grounds contain a lot of acid and odour molecules, which when put down the drain will turn into bacteria. When bacteria are in contact with water, they form waste called sludge or scum on the surface of the water; this scum forms a layer on top of the remaining water that is visible when you look into your sink. Thus, your sink is starting to smell badly over time.
5. It contains microscopic particles that may harm your health
Scraps of coffee grounds contain microscopic particles that can cause illnesses. Coffee grounds contain different chemicals such as caffeine, which is a stimulant. This can cause headaches.
Having coffee grounds in your sink would have adverse effects on the environment, health, and quality of life you enjoy. You should keep coffee grounds out of your sink so that everything can continue as it should be. Be sure to seek proper advice and follow it to the letter!