Vacuum Cleaner Dust - into the brown or black bin?

[TickTock]

To settle an argument. Does anyone know if the dust from the vacuum cleaner should be put into the brown or the ordinary black bin?

[Chris P]

Originally Posted by TickTock

To settle an argument. Does anyone know if the dust from the vacuum cleaner should be put into the brown or the ordinary black bin?

Hi Ticktock,

According to Wikipedia, "dust in homes, offices, and other human environments contains small amounts of plant pollen, human and animal hairs, textile fibers, paper fibers, minerals from outdoor soil, human skin cells, and many other materials which may be found in the local environment" ... such as dust/carpet mites. In short, household dust is mostly organic but probably contains some inorganic material as well.

My advice -- put household dust in the black bin, the contents of which may be incinerated or sent to landfill. I'd imagine that the good folk who collect and process the contents of the brown bins have a difficult enough job without contending with dust.

Other advice -- some folks suggest that household dust can be added to a compost heap (if the carpet fibres are wool rather than synthetic), and also that it can be used immediately as fertiliser. Please see here:

http://www.recyclethis.co.uk/2010032...from-vacuuming

Regards
Chris p
Admin

[TickTock]

Thanks Chris, much obliged. Good info on that site, except that one weird suggestion about making pillows, ugh!!!!!

[flies]

I think I'll try mine in my compost heap and see how it goes. Thanks for the info.

[Eibhlin ni Sheambrai]

We have always put hoover dust in the compost bin. No problems whatsoever. Eibhlin.

[TickTock]

I gave up the idea of composting as we had mice last year. My neighbour had a rat in her garden as well. We have never had these problems before and I'm more than 20 years in this house. Wonder if the birds would be interested in the hoover fluff for their nests?