# Is it more environmentally friendly to put food scraps down the garbage disposal or to put them in the kitchen trash? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 1, 2022, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-more-environmentally-friendly-to-put-food-scraps-down-the-garbage-disposal-or-to-put-them-in-the-kitchen-trash/975828 "2022-12-01T02:23:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![CorpusNeptune](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/corpusneptune/32/17561_2.png) [@CorpusNeptune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CorpusNeptune)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2022, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-more-environmentally-friendly-to-put-food-scraps-down-the-garbage-disposal-or-to-put-them-in-the-kitchen-trash/975828/21 "2022-12-01T06:53:54Z")
Well, now that you’ve mentioned it here, your county might find out! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Mortimus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Mortimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mortimus)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2022, 9:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-more-environmentally-friendly-to-put-food-scraps-down-the-garbage-disposal-or-to-put-them-in-the-kitchen-trash/975828/22 "2022-12-01T09:08:05Z")
> [@CorpusNeptune](#): > > Well, now that you’ve mentioned it here, your county might find out It’s all cool, nothing illegal going on. Honey wagon guy does his inspection as mandated by the county. If the tank needs pumping or the system needs other maintenance he does it. He explains the what and why and does his thing, I pay him, he signs the paperwork and submits it to the county for me. As far as I know, garbage disposals are legal here, but it’s common knowledge they not recommended with septic systems. The one we have came with the house but I wouldn’t have spec’d one if I were building the house. I’ve been using it since we moved here in 2006 and have never had a problem with the disposal or the septic. > [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](#): > > Of course, even better environmentally is the organic disposal – household pets. We have a four legged garbage disposal too. She’ll eat anything, even stuff she’s not supposed to have so we need to keep an eye on her. She’s cuter than she is smart. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2022, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-more-environmentally-friendly-to-put-food-scraps-down-the-garbage-disposal-or-to-put-them-in-the-kitchen-trash/975828/23 "2022-12-01T11:24:04Z")
> [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](#): > > So what about instead of using an in-sink disposal, throwing food scraps into the toilet? My plumber husband warns against doing this with any particles bigger than applesauce. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2022, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-more-environmentally-friendly-to-put-food-scraps-down-the-garbage-disposal-or-to-put-them-in-the-kitchen-trash/975828/24 "2022-12-01T13:21:12Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > Mom’s main counter argument is that scraps make the garbage stinky so you have to throw out the bag before it’s totally full If I have potentially smelly garbage (say fish wrappings) they go in the freezer until the garbage is full. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2022, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-more-environmentally-friendly-to-put-food-scraps-down-the-garbage-disposal-or-to-put-them-in-the-kitchen-trash/975828/25 "2022-12-01T13:26:47Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > Mom’s main counter argument is that scraps make the garbage stinky so you have to throw out the bag before it’s totally full sometimes. She may not want to compost or be able to, but if she just puts the food scraps in a separate bin, the rest of the trash will be dry and smell free. I do that, though I don’t have easy access to a compost facility. The little bag with food scraps smells after a few days, so I dispose of that while the regular trash is only changed after a couple of weeks or more. ---
**Author:** ![jjakucyk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3d9bf3/32.png) [@jjakucyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjakucyk)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2022, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-more-environmentally-friendly-to-put-food-scraps-down-the-garbage-disposal-or-to-put-them-in-the-kitchen-trash/975828/26 "2022-12-01T14:29:41Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > I remember one episode of _Home Improvement_ where Tim ran a tree through his disposal. Yes but he also “upgraded” it (moar power!) such that it required a pull-cord to start, akin to a lawn mower or chainsaw. Hilarious, but none too practical if you ask me. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2022, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-more-environmentally-friendly-to-put-food-scraps-down-the-garbage-disposal-or-to-put-them-in-the-kitchen-trash/975828/27 "2022-12-01T14:32:22Z")
> [@jjakucyk](#): > > but none too practical if you ask me. I don’t think that practical was ever in Tim’s mind when he “upgraded” anything. Generally people were lucky if it wasn’t outright dangerous. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2022, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-more-environmentally-friendly-to-put-food-scraps-down-the-garbage-disposal-or-to-put-them-in-the-kitchen-trash/975828/28 "2022-12-01T15:02:15Z")
So this Tim fellow made a real bass(wood)-o-matic. Tres cool!! Gallagher would be so proud. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2022, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-more-environmentally-friendly-to-put-food-scraps-down-the-garbage-disposal-or-to-put-them-in-the-kitchen-trash/975828/29 "2022-12-01T15:07:00Z")
> [@Mortimus](#): > > We have a garbage disposal and we are on a septic system. This is my situation too, and we do what you do. Garbage disposal is for the tiny bits only, larger foodstuffs go in the trash and get hauled to the township ̶d̶u̶m̶p̶ recycling center. Our septic system has remained functional over the decades, with inspection every 3 years. Composting is not real feasible given the large volume of wild animals including deer, coyotes, mink, skunks, opossum, raccoons, squirrels, and the occasional bear wandering through. The combined menagerie has broken into local compost bins constantly. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2022, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-more-environmentally-friendly-to-put-food-scraps-down-the-garbage-disposal-or-to-put-them-in-the-kitchen-trash/975828/30 "2022-12-01T15:09:36Z")
> [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](#): > > So what about instead of using an in-sink disposal, throwing food scraps into the toilet? With a modern low-flush model, does it use less water that way? I’d leave that to the answer of a (spousal) expert > [@Ulfreida](#): > > My plumber husband warns against doing this with any particles bigger than applesauce. Personally, I keep all large meaty scraps in a poultry or ‘beef’ bone bag for future stock purposes, and when I do a batch, it goes in the trash, not the disposal. Larger chunks of veggie waste goes in the trash, although the smallest scraps that I don’t catch go in the disposal. I find though that the odor is most likely to come from meat residue rather than veggies. Since I already buy Costco sized Arm & Hammer for cleaning though, it’s trivial to put a dash of that in the disposal or trash can if I have something likely to be stinky - the trays and drip absorbers that come with some of the meat products at the store (I do try to stay away from them, but still end up with a few) are the worst offenders. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2022, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-more-environmentally-friendly-to-put-food-scraps-down-the-garbage-disposal-or-to-put-them-in-the-kitchen-trash/975828/31 "2022-12-01T16:18:10Z")
Is a septic system unable to process a moderate amount of ground up food scraps? > [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Composting is not real feasible given the large volume of wild animals including deer, coyotes, mink, skunks, opossum, raccoons, squirrels, and the occasional bear wandering through. Change “mink” to “rats” and that’s our situation. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2022, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-more-environmentally-friendly-to-put-food-scraps-down-the-garbage-disposal-or-to-put-them-in-the-kitchen-trash/975828/32 "2022-12-01T16:26:51Z")
I only use the garbage disposal for smallest scraps that get stuck on the dishes, so it only gets used a couple of times a week. Things like cat foot that sticks to the bowels is the major item I send down the disposal, and then I make sure to run the water for for the 20-30 seconds recommended to send it on its merry way, definitely don’t want that stuff hanging in my pipes. Like any tool it needs to be used properly and is not a cure all for all scarps. And of course, grease never goes down the sink. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2022, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-more-environmentally-friendly-to-put-food-scraps-down-the-garbage-disposal-or-to-put-them-in-the-kitchen-trash/975828/33 "2022-12-01T16:35:41Z")
i reuse zip lock bags for food scraps (also for cat litter, as they have stopped plastic bags in stores). would that work? ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2022, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-more-environmentally-friendly-to-put-food-scraps-down-the-garbage-disposal-or-to-put-them-in-the-kitchen-trash/975828/34 "2022-12-01T16:47:08Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > Is a septic system unable to process a moderate amount of ground up food scraps? My septic expert (Howie has been our expert for nearly 4 decades, has repaired and replaced systems for me on our main house plus other properties during that time, and kept my system running through floods, power failures, mound failures, etc) tells me that ideally only water, feces, urine and toilet paper should go into our system. Other objects reduce the system’s lifetime and make it prone to other problems. So we minimize kitchen waste as much as possible. We have limited feasible space for our tank and mound system, and severe failure would mean replacing it with a holding tank that would need pumping out regularly. I do not want that. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2022, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-more-environmentally-friendly-to-put-food-scraps-down-the-garbage-disposal-or-to-put-them-in-the-kitchen-trash/975828/35 "2022-12-01T16:56:42Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > ideally only water, feces, urine and toilet paper should go into our system. I’m used to no toilet paper in the toilet while in the Caribbean. I mentioned once to my gf how much healthier that would be for our septic system but she was not at all interested. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2022, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-more-environmentally-friendly-to-put-food-scraps-down-the-garbage-disposal-or-to-put-them-in-the-kitchen-trash/975828/36 "2022-12-01T17:04:13Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Other objects reduce the system’s lifetime and make it prone to other problems I don’t dispute this at all, but I still don’t completely understand why. I guess feces are more easily eaten by bacteria than undigested food bits. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2022, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-more-environmentally-friendly-to-put-food-scraps-down-the-garbage-disposal-or-to-put-them-in-the-kitchen-trash/975828/37 "2022-12-01T17:17:44Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > I don’t dispute this at all, but I still don’t completely understand why. I guess feces are more easily eaten by bacteria than undigested food bits. Probably “slippage”. Septic systems will get some undigestible stuff in them via feces, but if you add food remnants via the garbage disposal, the overall burden of stuff not broken down by bacteria, etc (bone, cartilage, tendons, certain fiber, eggshells, nutshells) will increase, adding strain to system. And we’re in it for the long haul, I want my system lasting for decades and decades. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2022, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-more-environmentally-friendly-to-put-food-scraps-down-the-garbage-disposal-or-to-put-them-in-the-kitchen-trash/975828/38 "2022-12-01T17:21:31Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > And we’re in it for the long haul, I want my system lasting for decades and decades. Me too! We just had to completely install a new system to move the drain field away from the shoreline (and replace 1930 era holding tanks). We now pump our sewage up the hillside about 100 feet. I will certainly do what we can to make sure the system outlives me and my wife. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2022, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-more-environmentally-friendly-to-put-food-scraps-down-the-garbage-disposal-or-to-put-them-in-the-kitchen-trash/975828/39 "2022-12-01T17:24:46Z")
I was always told that if it CAN go into the garbage rather than the disposal, then it SHOULD. Egg shells, coffee grounds in the garbage. Wet stuff from dinner plates in the disposal. I am in Sacramento. We now have the food waste containers with bio-degradable bags that go in the green waste every week. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2022, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-more-environmentally-friendly-to-put-food-scraps-down-the-garbage-disposal-or-to-put-them-in-the-kitchen-trash/975828/40 "2022-12-01T18:00:17Z")
> [@echoreply](#): > > In some places sewage plants compost their biosolids. In other places the biosolids go to a landfill. It will be important to know what your sewage plant does before making a decision. From the [California government web site:](https://calrecycle.ca.gov/organics/biosolids/) - 56% of biosolids from wastewater treatment are applied to land as a soil amendment and fertilizer - 19% was used a daily/final cover at landfills - 13% was disposed in landfill - 3% to surface disposal - 3% to incineration This was 2013 data. I found 2014 data which showed 9% going to landfill disposal, and I’m not sure what has happened since. But it’s probably a safe assumption that they have continued to divert more from landfills over the last 8 year. So in terms of landfill volume and methane waste, the garbage disposal is better. In terms of water usage and your plumbing system, the trash is better. For power usage and carbon footprint, you could probably manipulate all the different factors to make it show what you want. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-more-environmentally-friendly-to-put-food-scraps-down-the-garbage-disposal-or-to-put-them-in-the-kitchen-trash/975828.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-more-environmentally-friendly-to-put-food-scraps-down-the-garbage-disposal-or-to-put-them-in-the-kitchen-trash/975828.md?page=3)