How to Reuse and Recycle Eggshells

Eggshells are prized in our household for a variety of uses from crafting to gardening. Throwing your eggshells away is such a waste! Instead of sending your valuable eggshells to the landfill, try some of these ideas.

To store eggshells for later use, rinse them and set them out on a towel to dry for a few hours. Once they are dry, crumble them into pieces and store them in an empty container in the refrigerator. I like to use a large plastic yogurt container. Take them out to use as needed.

In the garden, broken eggshells act as a natural slug and snail repellent. Sprinkle them around your plants to form a barrier that slugs will not cross. You can also add the crushed eggshells to your compost or worm bin. It will add valuable calcium to your soil and your vegetables.

If you keep chickens, you can feed the eggshells back to your laying hens so that they receive needed calcium. Do not feed the eggshells in pieces as this can cause them to learn to peck at and eat the shells of their own eggs. Instead, wash and dry the eggshells and grind them to powder using a mortar and pestle. Add the powdered eggshell to the chickens' feed.

Eggshells make a fantastic calcium supplement. You can make your own pills by powdering the shells with a mortar and pestle. Then fill gel caps with the eggshell powder. You can purchase empty gel caps in bulk online or from your local natural foods store.

Eggshells are also excellent calcium supplements for pets. Many dogs like eating eggshells. If they are given whole, they should be uncooked, fresh, and still wet so that they are somewhat soft. If they are cooked or dry, powder them using a mortar and pestle and add them to your pet's food. This is especially good for older pets who are losing bone density.

Broken eggshell pieces from dyed Easter eggs are great to use for crafts. Kids can use them to create colorful mosaics on paper using a little white glue and pieces of the colored eggshell as the medium.

Eggshells can be profitable. Use an egg blower to blow out your eggs. Rinse the shells and allow them to dry for several days. These whole shells can be used for a variety of crafts such as etching, painted or decorated eggs, or for pysanky. These beautiful eggs can be sold or given as gifts or made into Christmas tree ornaments.

If you do choose to make whole eggshells, but do not want to use them for crafts, you can sell the empty eggshells. Many crafters are interested in buying handblown eggs for their craft projects. I have seen several people selling them online in egg cartons by the dozen.