What Not to Put in a Garbage Disposal

• Coffee grounds. Coffee grounds can clump together into a thick mass that will clog your food disposal and won’t allow your sink to drain.
• Meat. Does your garbage disposal stink? It might be because you’re putting meat into it. You should never put meat into a food disposal sink. It can stick to the interior of the machine, rot, and cause a stench. Always throw meat remnants in the trash. Bones (with the possible exception of those from fish) should also stay out of the garbage disposal. Your unit isn’t strong enough to grind them up.
• Starchy foods. Putting bread, oatmeal, pasta, and rice in your garbage disposal is a bad idea. These foods expand when wet, which can form a gelatinous paste in your drain and block up your sink. 
• Shells, nuts, and vegetable peels. The shells of seafood and other crustaceans are also things not to put in a garbage disposal. The little bits can dull the blades and clog the machinery, causing the food disposal to malfunction. You should also avoid eggshells, nuts, vegetable peels, fruit cores and pits, and corn husks and cobs.
• Grease, oil, or cooking fat. These materials should never go into your plumbing, whether you have a garbage disposal or not. It can solidify and cause a whole mess that an expensive plumber will have to sort out. 
• Fibrous foods. Some examples of fibrous vegetables that can’t be ground up include pumpkin, celery, kale, lettuce, chard, artichokes, asparagus, and rhubarb. Their stringy materials can tangle up inside the unit and jam it. If that happens, you’ll need to unclog your garbage disposal.
• Non-food items. We’ve all experienced flipping the switch and hearing the grinding of a fork or spoon we missed. It can also be easy for a stray napkin or food wrapper to sneak its way into your sink food processor. Try to remember to do a quick check before turning on the appliance. 
• Caustic cleaning chemicals. Avoid harsh chemicals like drain cleaner and bleach. Instead, use natural deodorants for your garbage disposal, like baking soda, vinegar or lemon juice, and dish soap.

Are you wondering what to do with your non-friendly disposal items? Try composting some of your food scraps to reduce waste and help your garden thrive. [More on that below since we have a composting service available at Park Tower.]

• Soft or liquid foods. A general rule to keep in mind is that if you can feed it to your baby, you can put it down your garbage disposal. Many solid foods, such as vegetables (without peels) or fruits, can also go into the appliance. Chop them up first, so they don’t strain the unit.
• Ice. Throw some ice cubes in along with your food waste and grind them up. They’ll help loosen the food residue that is stuck to the blades.
• Citrus fruits. Keep a bag of orange, lemon, or other citrus peels in the freezer and toss some in when you need to freshen up your garbage disposal. Make sure to cut them up in bite-sized chunks, so you don’t overwork the machine. 

For proper garbage disposal maintenance, you should also always run cold water through your food disposal appliance while it is in use and for 30 seconds after it has finished grinding food. This helps ensure that all food bits wash down the drain and none remain in your disposal.

To read from the source, Click Here.

We are trying to be fair, by presenting what they say can be put down a garbage disposal. However, our plumber’s opinion is that even soft foods – fruits and vegetables – can be a problem because they are acidic and can create a paste that can stick to the plumbing and help produce build up and clogs.

SO – you’re ready to get rid of your garbage disposal you say, but you want an alternative. Let us know at parktowercondo-mgmt@habitat.com. If you need help with removal and/or want to sign up for the Block Bins composting service, we can help. For more on that:

Block Bins Composting Free At PTCA