Garbage disposal is an electric machine used in many homes and restaurants to get rid of food waste . A disposal, installed under the kitchen sink, grinds food waste into small pieces. Cold water is run from the sink faucet into the disposal while the machine operates. The running water helps to prevent clogs.
A disposal enables people to get rid of garbage immediately instead of letting it accumulate. If garbage is left standing too long, it begins to rot. Rotting garbage smells foul. It can also attract insects and rats and contribute to the spread of disease.
After garbage is ground in a disposal, the garbage mixes with the rest of the sewage that comes from a building’s sinks and toilets. In cities and towns that have a public sewerage system, the sewage flows to a wastewater treatment plant. The garbage and other solids in the sewage settle in the treatment tanks. In most systems, the settled material is then pumped to other tanks for further treatment. In rural areas without a public sewerage system, most homes have an underground concrete, steel, or fiberglass container called a septic tank. Sewage flows into the septic tank, and bacteria in the sewage break down the solid material.
A disposal can be clogged by tough, stringy wastes or by overloading. Most disposals have a device that stops the motor if the grinder gets clogged. The clogged material can then be removed. The person removing the material should first make sure that the disposal is off.
The use of a disposal increases the amount of solid particles in a building’s sewage. It can also increase the grease content of the sewage. People with disposals may be more likely to put grease down their sink drain—something they should avoid doing. Some people argue that disposals, especially when improperly used, can contribute to sewage pipe buildup and blockages and raise the costs of municipal wastewater treatment. But other people say that the use of disposals can lower the volume of waste in landfills and reduce the costs of municipal solid waste collection.
