Waste Disposal unit in kitchen- would you recommend?

[Milliways]

We are replacing and remodelling a large kitchen/diner. Decided on units, worktop, tiles and main appliances and now sorting the rest before agreeing a start date.

It’s been suggested we have a waste disposal added to our 1 1/2 sink unit. Until now I’ve used a food waste bin that goes in the recycling, but would be nice to lose this bin from the cupboard under the sink.

If you have one, do you use it and are there problems? Do they get jammed up or smelly? Would you recommend one?

Thanks

[CornforthWhite]

Yes it's fab. Couldn't live without. I grew up with one so it's something I couldn't imagine having. Not smelly and hasn't jammed. We don't put chicken bones down or stones from plums or nectarines etc. Everything else goes down and it's fabulous!

[Milliways]

Thanks, That sounds good. Can you put all the veg peelings in or only really small plate scrapings at a time?

[wowfudge]

The drains are for water, not mashed up food waste. I think they are a terrible idea and wouldn't have one.

[fabulousathome]

I love mine, although I don't think they are ecco friendly.

Insinkorater is the brand. It was from JOHN Lewis. It's not blocked so far, 7 years roughly. I think they go well with dishwasher if you like to rinse the plates.

It's not good for meat bones or citrus skin. Otherwise it's great.

I wouldn't be without it. Hope that helps.

[specialsubject]

it is a waste of energy and drinking water but this is mn so to state that gets the playground queens screeching.

so much easier to use a food waste bin, especially as you pay to have that luxury. Open, chuck,close, empty when needed.

[bestbefore]

I have always wondered where it all goes? In the drains?

[Stuckforthefourthtime]

I'm with wowfudge. They're better for the environment than putting it all in landfill but much much worse than using the food bin or composting - I'd save the money and use it for something like a qooker tap (we don't have one, but all the people I know who do are in love!)

[wowfudge]

Yes - down the drains. Bleurgh.

[Temporaryanonymity]

Water companies hate them.

[NotSuchASmugMarriedNow1]

I got one and I'd never do without one again. Storing food till bin collection day turns it maggoty !

[wowfudge]

Is it better than landfill though? They are an unnecessary use of water and water companies already spend a fortune unblocking the sewers of fatbergs, discarded wipes and so on, plus it must encourage rats, etc.

[LoniceraJaponica]

"The drains are for water, not mashed up food waste. I think they are a terrible idea and wouldn't have one."

This ^^
Is your plumbing up to it?

[wowfudge]

Food waste doesn't get maggoty if you keep flies off it though.

[GrumpyOlderBloke]

Strongly recommend.

As long as you remember:

Check for cutlery
Water on
Waste disposal on
Poke waste into waste disposal - wooden spoon, plastic stirer or brush
Wait for all grinding noises to cease
Count to five, Waste Disposal Off
Water Off

Always water on first and off last and you will never block it. Well it's jammed less than half a dozen times in 30 years. It comes with an Allen Key to manually turn it backwards to unjam. No great drama.

Absolutely no smell - all the nasties go straight down the drain!. Throw in the orange and lemon peel and it even smells sweet.

I fitted the cheapest plastic bodied Insinkerator in 1989. Finally wore through the plastic body after 25 years. New one was less than £100 and 20 minutes to replace.

We call ours The Dragon because we told the boys a Dragon lived under the sink and would eat them if they put their fingers in there!

All the boys added Dragons to their sinks when they bought their first houses. To them the lack of one would be like have no flushing loo.

[Milliways]

Interesting!
I was surprised it all just went down the drain, hence querying the blockages etc. Hadn’t even considered the eco question either.

To be honest, I wouldn’t have considered one as don’t know anyone with one, and have managed until now without one, but the whole new kitchen experience is doing our heads in as there is so much to consider and we want to get it right as won’t be doing it again (but I do appreciate I am extremely fortunate to at last be able to do this- lived here 20 years and kitchen around 30 years old). A fitter just suggested this today.

Does the waste just end in the sewage treatment? I assume it is biodegradable. Is it the extra water and power making it so eco-unfriendly?

[Milliways]

And crossed post with many of you whilst typing that, more views to read.
Thank you everyone for your comments! Going to show this to DH

[bestbefore]

They seem awful to me. I have a kitchen caddy for food peelings and waste which then goes in our garden waste bin. However I do think we have a very good waste collection service here!
I think our drains would block if we had one.

[Stuckforthefourthtime]

Yes to the water and power. Also, larger pieces inevitably work their way through and block royher household pipes, wastewater pipes or the filters at sewage plants, and the products then have to be manually (and in the case of pipes quite expensively) removed and taken to landfill anyway.
If you pop it straight in a food bin you're avoiding all the above, at the cost of a small increase in truck usage.
Commercial kitchens aren't allowed insinkerators (in most places, not actually sure about UK), largely for these reasons.

[Huntlybyelection]

Really bad idea. Our sewer network isn't designed to take food waste. Think of the fatbergs!

Also, food waste can be composted or can be used to create bio gas and liquids that fuel vehicles, can be injected into the gas grid or can help aid fertilisation of crops. You are literally wasting these benefits by shovelling food waste down your sink.

[flirtygirl]

Really bad for the sewers and water ways. Not good environmentally.

[CitrusFruit9]

I wouldn't. I inherited an insinkerator in my current kitchen. It is fairly problem free but a bit pointless. Sometimes I have to run it just to get water to go down the sink. Also you can't use bleach which is a pain as I have a corian sink which stains badly.

If I CBA I would have it taken out. Definitely would not choose to install one.

[NorthWind]

I grew up with one but I also grew up at a time of asbestos and dumping crap in the sea …. we even had a key chain for our boat "the solution to pollution is dilution". Times have changed. We now understand that the organic material you put down sinks, blocks drains, and uses power and water at a sewage station to separate and filter. Far better to separate it out before it goes down the drain and put it in your brown bin so it can be taken to an anaerobic digester plant and turned into electricity and fertiliser.

[howabout]

I loved mine in the US. Coffee grounds are good for keeping it clean and sweet smelling. Positive plus point for the environment as it stops people putting bleach and other chemical unblockers down their drains. Not convinced macerated food waste in the sewage system is much different from human solid waste. Just checked what happens to it and it is indeed turned into electricity and fertiliser in just the same way as brown bin waste.

www.water.org.uk/about-water-uk/wastewater

(If all the pearl clutchers knew my DH's capacity to block a toilet they would be demanding he cut his roughage intake forthwith).

[Huntlybyelection]

Utilising sewage for electricity and heat isn't very extensive in the UK. Whereas composting and using food waste in anaerobic digestion is.

The sewers weren't meant for food.

[BrickByBrick]

We have inherited one as well. Never used it and probably never will. Would much rather a 1/2 sink. I wonder if it is easy to change it to a standard plug.

My household waste is burnt.