My neighbor — retired, gardens all day, grows tomatoes the size of softballs — caught me tossing a banana peel into the trash last summer. The look he gave me. You would think I had thrown away a twenty-dollar bill.

“You know that is plant food, right?” he said. I did not know. Now I do, and I have not thrown away a banana peel since.

Americans eat about 13 pounds of bananas per person per year. That is a lot of peels headed to the landfill. Here is what you can do with them instead.

1. Plant Fertilizer (Soak Method)

Drop peels into a jar of water, let them sit overnight, then pour that water onto your plants. Potassium and phosphorus leach out — two of the three main nutrients plants need. Easy. Smells weird, but easy.

2. Direct Soil Amendment

Chop peels into small pieces and bury them an inch deep around your rose bushes or tomato plants. They break down in about two weeks. Worms love them, which means better soil structure over time.

3. Shoe Polish (Yes, Really)

Rub the inside of a banana peel on leather shoes, then buff with a soft cloth. The potassium and natural oils create a surprising shine. Is it as good as actual shoe polish? No. Does it work in a pinch? Absolutely. I have done this before a wedding when I realized my dress shoes looked like I had walked through a construction site.

4. Skin Soother

Bug bite driving you crazy? Rub the inside of a banana peel on it. The sugars and antioxidants help draw fluid out and reduce the itch. Not a medical miracle, but noticeably better than doing nothing.

5. Compost Accelerator

Banana peels break down fast and add potassium to your compost pile. If your compost is mostly dry leaves and cardboard, banana peels are the moisture and nutrient boost it needs.

6. Meat Tenderizer (Weird But Works)

Lay a ripe banana peel over chicken or steak before cooking. The enzymes help break down proteins. I tried this once out of pure curiosity — the chicken came out noticeably more tender. Not dramatically, but enough that I do it when I remember.