Comments in the Guardian gardening blog suggest
(1) No
(2) Yes
(3) Depends
(4) Feed ‘em to the worms.
In my experience they develop a rather dangerous looking green mould and I’m not sure I want it rampaging through my compost heap and soil. Wave of the spade to Horticultural.
We compost little else – apart from exotic fruit flown half-way round the world just to look good in Tesco, for me to buy too much of.
Mine go to the worms….or if I’m feeling really ambitious I’ll wait for them to dry out, open up the papery stuff and sprinkle it in with my coffee grounds to fertilize my houseplants. My herb-teas are loose so they go right from the pot and into the flower beds….
Ooooh! Runswick Bay!!! Have you looked into composting (etc.) seaweed yet? Might have to wash out the salt, but pretty awesome stuff, I understand.