A better alternative to wasting water is to compost as many food items as possible, including vegetable and fruit scraps, egg shells, coffee grounds, tea bags, stale bread and crackers.ĭisposing of kitchen waste down the drain leads to extra waste in septic systems and water treatment facilities. To get an idea of how much water is wasted each time the garbage disposal is used, calculate the average time it takes you to grind and flush the food, then put an empty bowl or pitcher under the faucet and run the water for the same amount of time. Sinks use an average of 2 gallons of water per minute. This water serves no purpose other than to dispose of food items, many of which can be put to better use as compost. Garbage disposals require running water to flush food down the drain after grinding. Fats, such as butter, shortening and lard often jam garbage disposals and cause foul odors. Many starchy foods expand in hot water and can pack tightly in the drain pipe, which is an even more costly repair. Starchy foods, including rice, pasta, potatoes and potato peels often form a gunk that jams the blade and clogs the drain.
Meat products, including meat waste, skin and bones can clog the disposal, dull the blade and make the sink smell. Stringy, fibrous waste such as celery, asparagus, banana peels, corn husks and coconut shells can wrap around the blade and cause it to jam. Garbage disposals are not meant to handle all types of food waste and the list of forbidden items is sometimes confusing. Adding citrus peels, citrus juice or baking soda deodorizes the disposal, but this means extra cost for maintenance. The downside to using a garbage disposal is that the disposal itself can develop a foul odor, particularly if homeowners put forbidden food items down the drain and clog up the disposal.
The smell can attract wild animals that may tear through the garbage to find the discarded food. For homeowners with bi-weekly or monthly garbage pickup, this can mean a very large amount of food waste left to rot in the garbage. Using a garbage disposal helps to cut down on odors in garbage cans because food doesn’t rot in the trash can. Many modern homes are built with a garbage disposal attached to the kitchen sink drain. Garbage disposals are popular in homes because they are convenient in many cases, plates can be cleaned of directly into the sink instead of the trash can. The Pros And Cons Of Garbage Disposal For Houston Homeowners