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Monday, April 1, 2013

Should You Use a Garbage Disposal? Find Out with This Guide



It’s no secret why people use garbage disposals. They’re an incredibly easy way to clean up after dinner: you just flip a switch, toss the food in, and you’re done. Beneath the surface, however, is a problem that causes drains to clog and water treatment plants to expend more energy. Read on to learn more about some of the drawbacks of garbage disposal use, along with a few useful alternatives:

Environmental Impact
When you throw something in the trash, it’s easy to forget that it goes somewhere.
With modern waste management systems, people no longer have to think much about where their trash ends up. In a similar way, the food you put into your garbage disposal is not swept away to oblivion. Instead, it travels via municipal sewer lines to a water treatment facility. Unless your municipal water treatment plant contains a food waste to biogas conversion facility, these bits of food are not welcome. They make it more expensive to treat water and can even go on to contaminate lakes and rivers.

Effects On Your Drains
Smart garbage disposal use involves keeping greasy and fatty foods out. Precious few homeowners follow this advice, however. The result is the fast buildup of grease and fats in drainpipes. When grease adheres to the walls of drains, it acts as a natural adhesive, capturing bits of food and leading to clogs and backups. To avoid the need for frequent drain cleanings, it’s best to avoid using a garbage disposal entirely. If your garbage disposal is an essential convenience, however, pay special attention to what you toss in. Mashed potatoes are fine, for instance, but greasy and oily meats and cheese are a different story.

Alternatives to Garbage Disposals
There are plenty of eco-and drain-friendly alternatives to using a garbage disposal. The first, of course, is to always clear your plate. Carefully managing your portion sizes will help ensure that little food is wasted. You can’t force guests to clear their plates, however, so you’ll always need a backup plan. For any food waste, composting is a great, eco-friendly option. Simply set up a waste bin for food in your kitchen, and empty it into a backyard composting bin when it’s full. Setting up a composting bin is simple. Just take a large barrel or garbage pale, poke a few holes in the top for ventilation, and install a wire fence to keep critters out. Once gardening season comes around, you’ll have one of the best natural fertilizers available.

Are you looking for more tips to keep your drains clean? Head to the Mr.Rooter of Anderson SC website. There you can find tips and tricks on our Ask the Expert page for everything from clearing a drain clog to fixing a leaking faucet.

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