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[wildcat fan]

My mom has lots of issues with hers, and I wondered if it's because she has a septic tank rather than city sewer.

Stringy vegetables can create a clog. My plumber told me to always let the water run a few seconds after turning it off to let everything wash out.

[Pickwickpapers]

I have used a disposal for 30 plus years in several homes with very few problems. I do not recommend large rinds from melons unless you cut them in small pieces, bones, raw meat or raw chicken skin in large pieces but other than that a disposal is great to reduce smelly food that would then have to go in your garbage. This way my garbage which is only picked up weekly by waste management is not smelly and doesn't attract bugs and other unwanted critters. You could compost a huge amount of disposal waste that would benefit your garden. My aunt who turned 77 in February doesn't have and has never wanted a disposal. She composts, freezes non compost waste until trash day, feeds her two dog any table scraps along with dog food and is happy without one. Again it you are comfortable with a disposal and like it great, if not save the expense and dispose of things in another manner.......either way will work. Update: The home that I have lived in for the past ten years is 3 acres with a septic tank. We are permitted by the county to have a disposal. Whether that is allowed in other areas I don't know. So disposals can work with septic systems but which ones and where would be better answered by your local building inspector.

[terrier3]

On 5/4/2014 wildcat fan said:

My mom has lots of issues with hers, and I wondered if it's because she has a septic tank rather than city sewer.

Stringy vegetables can create a clog. My plumber told me to always let the water run a few seconds after turning it off to let everything wash out.

I heard that you should never hook one up to a septic system.

It's illegal where I live to do so.

[shopqvcless]

Thanks everyone….I think I've decided against it. We would be hooked up to a sewer system and we have problems every once in a while with our sewer so I don't think I want to add a risk of anymore problems. For 30+ years it has worked with taking the smelly things out to trash container outside or the one in garage and everything else in kitchen garage. Thanks for all your help!!

One more decision made….only a few left Can't imagine building/remodeling a whole house….kitchen is about to do me in. So many options newer options!!!

[Clover29]

Our food waste goes in the yard waste bin for composting. I never used the sink disposal, and when we remodeled I refused to get another one.

[brewhaha]

There are no cons.

[wildcat fan]

On 5/4/2014 terrier3 said:

On 5/4/2014 wildcat fan said:

My mom has lots of issues with hers, and I wondered if it's because she has a septic tank rather than city sewer.

Stringy vegetables can create a clog. My plumber told me to always let the water run a few seconds after turning it off to let everything wash out.

I heard that you should never hook one up to a septic system.

It's illegal where I live to do so.

That's interesting. The garbage disposal was already installed when my parents purchased the home. The home buyer inspectors never said anything about it, but my mom started complaining about it not long after they moved in. She's had the plumber out 3 or 4 times to fix it, but he's never mentioned anything about it being illegal. Instead of replacing it, she just decided to stop using it.

[ID2]

I honestly have never heard of anyone NOT having a garbage disposal! I've had one my whole life. But when we bought our old cottage years ago I had to live without one. I absolutely hated it! We just got through knocking that place down and rebuilding new and I definitely had one put in. We have a septic system there and it was no problem putting in a garbage disposal with a septic. There's really nothing that I don't put down my disposal. I really can't imagine not having a garbage disposal. I don't get it.

[Clover29]

On 5/4/2014 ID2 said:

I honestly have never heard of anyone NOT having a garbage disposal! I've had one my whole life. But when we bought our old cottage years ago I had to live without one. I absolutely hated it! We just got through knocking that place down and rebuilding new and I definitely had one put in. We have a septic system there and it was no problem putting in a garbage disposal with a septic. There's really nothing that I don't put down my disposal. I really can't imagine not having a garbage disposal. I don't get it.

Wikipedia says 50% of American homes have them, so that's a lot who don't.

I grew up in Britain, where they're unheard of.

[Mom2Dogs]

I have always had a disposal...as a kid living at home and now in my own home. I would never be without one! I put most everything down the disposal that you can eat but ...no bones, no coffee grinds, no egg shells, no watermelon rinds and leave the water run to get everything out of the drain. I would never want to be without one...wrapping garbage does not sound like fun to me.