Off the Urban Grid

Reuse Olive By-Products

You might forget that everything produces waste, because it’s easy to do this when dealing with small items. For instance, olives have waste and it’s the pit. However, because olives are canned and turned into olive oil, there is a mass amount of different by-products created. So when you look at the bigger picture, there is a significant amount of garbage resulting from all of the olives that are harvested. If you have an olive orchard or eat olives on a regular basis, consider reusing or composting the waste.

If you have an orchard, you can use the pruning brush for fuel or animal feed, and Olive by-Products for Animal Feed by Associates Bernan is just one book to get you started. Another option is to compost the remaining olives and brush, so you can fertilize your ornamentals or garden. These materials will help enrich the soil with potassium, and maybe that’s just what your soil is lacking.

Although it’s more difficult to find, some manufacturers in Syria, Greece and Australia have turned olive pits into fire logs (a.k.a. olive husk logs). It would be interesting to compare these olive logs to wood ones. Or reuse at home can be simpler like using the pits to smoke meat. If the smell and taste of olives appeals to you, this option might be a great start.

If you use your imagination, there are even more opportunities to use olive by-products, especially around your home. For example, you or your children can turn olive pits into treasures by incorporating them into crafts. Maybe put them on baskets or use them as eyes. Keep in mind that they can be painted a different color too.

One positive aspect is that some olive industries burn the pits, which in turn help heat their processing areas. So not all of the olive by-products are going to a landfill or polluting the planet, but it always helps to do your part.

Tags: olive by-products, olive pits, olive waste