Americans drink a lot of coffee. It’s the second largest commodity traded; right after oil. And the bulk of those coffee grounds go right into the land fill.
That’s a shame because coffee makes a great fertilizer and composting agent. It’s high in nitrogen and also contains potassium and phosphorous. You can simply sprinkle it around existing plants and water it in or add it to compost. Paper coffee filters break down quickly during composting so you can just toss them in the compost whole.
If you’re not a coffee drinker; or just need a lot more coffee grounds than you generally produce through your own consumption a visit to your local coffee shop is in order. According to Fort Worth, Texas based Panther City Coffee Co, most coffee shops are willing to hang on to their grounds (and a busy coffee shop can produce hundreds of pounds a week) as long as you are polite and considerate. Keep in mind it is a bit of a hassle for the employees to keep and package; it helps if you supply a container, and be sure you pick up the grounds regularly so they don’t sit in the way for weeks at a time.