I just bought a Condo that has a Food Waste Disposer. I've never used one, but it looks easy and clean.
Do any of you use one, and can give me the Pros and Cons?......WY

[www.youtube.com]

WY, do you mean it's an Insinkerator or some such device?

I compost almost everything that would otherwise go into the disposer, but occasionally I'll put tea leaves or coffee grounds or carrot peels in it, if I'm being lazy You must run it with the cold water and only cold water running into it from the tap, and shut the disposer off before you shut the water off. Never throw anything difficult to break down,like winter squash shell or pineapple skin, into the waste disposer; softer things, like apple peels and over ripe berries are fine.

The best way to cleanse it, every month or as necessary depending on use, is to put half of a manually juiced lemon and a couple spoons of baking soda into the disposer, turn on the cold tap water and let it run until it's empty. It should be clean and deoderized. There are chemical tablets you can buy for grungier disposers; they're usually located next to automatic dishwahser soaps at the grocery, but the ingredients are frequently toxic and bad for the environment, etc.

As you can see, someone that eats mostly raw fruits and vegetables and has access to a composter would need to use a disposer seldom. I run it maybe once every couple of weeks! It does increase the resale value of the home, however.

In my day, we called it a 'garbage disposal'.

Tamukha Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> WY, do you mean it's an Insinkerator or some such device?

Yes, that's exactly what it is. As KidRaw said, it's better known as a Garbage Disposal.
Tam....Thanks for your in-depth report....very helpful. I'm going to have to figure out a way to use it for Pineapple skins. I understand pineapple tops are too stringy to use in one. Watermelon, and Honeydew, rinds have always been difficult for me, but I shouldn't have a problem now......WY

WY,

I wouldn't use it. It pollutes the ground water further and places more stress on the septic system. Composting is the only way to go in my opinion.

vermontnl Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
.....Composting is the only way to go in my opinion.

Yes...I don't think anyone would disagree. But not all of us live where Composting massive amounts of fruit scraps is feasible. Living in a Condo, as I do, doesn't allow for Farming activities.
Btw, I used my Food Waste Disposer for the first time today. I really like it. Now I can start buying Melons again......WY

It is amazing to me how compost does not smell at all if covered in dry material. You might even be able to have a 3x3x3 (the smallest workable size) on a deck, porch, or patio. Just a thought.