Eggshells are one of those kitchen leftovers that most people throw away without a second thought.

You crack an egg, use the contents, and the shell goes straight into the trash.

But before you toss your next batch of eggshells, you might want to take a second look.

Eggshells are primarily made of calcium carbonate, along with small amounts of other minerals and organic components. That composition gives them several practical uses around the home and garden.

Of course, not every viral eggshell “hack” is scientifically proven, and eggshells aren’t a magical health supplement. But when cleaned and handled properly, they can sometimes be reused instead of immediately becoming waste.

Here are some of the most interesting ways you can put eggshells to work.

1. Add Them to Your Compost

One of the simplest ways to reuse eggshells is to add them to a compost pile.

Because eggshells contain calcium carbonate, they can contribute minerals to compost as they gradually break down.

However, don’t expect them to disappear overnight.

Eggshells are relatively hard and may take considerable time to decompose, especially if they are left in large pieces.

Want them to break down faster?

Rinse the shells, allow them to dry completely, and crush them into small pieces before adding them to your compost.

Grinding them into a coarse powder can make them even easier to incorporate.

This is a simple way to turn a kitchen leftover into something useful for your garden.