Kitchen Conundrum
I often get asked whether its better to put food scraps down the waste disposal unit or to throw them in the garbage? The best option is neither. In an ideal world, you would compost 80 percent of your food scraps and feed the rest to the dog! But if can’t quite get your head around composting yet, you are probably better off throwing the scraps into the garbage and this is why: With clean water becoming more and more expensive and valuable, we really need to curb our use. Garbage disposals typically use a great deal of water. Also, the more waste we put down them, the more that ends up in the sewer system, which requires even more water and energy to clean. Large food scaps or globs of food, yuck - are also removed from this attractive swirling mass, and taken to the landfill anyway. So don’t think you are doing the planet a favor by tossing your scraps down the “gobbler” - it might seem to effortlessly spirit it away, but there’s a pretty hefty price to pay.
March 3rd, 2008 at 5:43 pm
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April 23rd, 2008 at 12:10 am
I had also heard that it takes alot more of our resources to “clean” the food particles from the disposal water. Composting is a much eco-friendly option.
In places were I have not composted, a wait to the end of the day or a few days, blender the scraps and put them in a shallow hole in various places in the landscaping then cover them back up.
Just a few thoughts.
April 23rd, 2008 at 6:46 pm
Here are two websites from California’s Integrated Waste Management website regarding tips for composting your food waste. California is way ahead of the rest of the US as far as environmental regulations and green-minded product availability.
http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/FoodWaste/Compost/
http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/Organics/HomeCompost/
June 18th, 2008 at 2:13 am
I have a septic tank where I live. Is it still better to throw the food scraps in the trash than down the disposal ?
July 30th, 2008 at 6:33 pm
I was so excited to find out that my neighbor is raising two pigs for fair…all of my kitchen leftovers, scraps, and outdated foods are now a donated snack for someones future pork!