Guest guest Posted September 29, 2007 Report Share Posted September 29, 2007 Hi all I haven't posted much, but I've been reading the digests pretty much all the time so i'm still here. I'm working to settle into the new house in FL and keep it "simple" lol It is SO not easy. lol And FL is AWFUL when it comes to recycling and all that.. I'm totally disappointed... But anyway, I was wondeirng about garbage disposals... are they environmentally friendly in any way? I know composting is the best bet for food garbage but I have no need for compost since i'm not a gardener. Plus I'd have no clue how to start (maybe someday in the future, but right now things are too bonkers). So is it better to put scraps through the disposal instead of the trash? Or is it just waste of electricity & water? IOs the point of them really to just save the drains form clogs? or is there more to it? I'v enever had one before, but now I do so I need info please. terri Check out the hottest 2008 models today at Autos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 29, 2007 Report Share Posted September 29, 2007 I do the same thing, only because our garbage disposal isn't very efficient, and we've clogged it up several times. Terri, do you have recycling for yard waste? That's what I put mine in. If you don't, I'm not sure what to tell you. It's a good question, and my instincts would be that it IS a waste of electricity and water. And I think Leslie is right, any chemicals in the food will end up in the water system. Thanks for bringing this up... Terri, it's good to hear from you! Please email me when you get a chance and let me know how things are going. cyndi In a message dated 9/29/2007 2:57:55 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, leslie writes: The thing about pushing food items down the disposal is that it ultimately ends up in our drains and oceans. We live in a small condo and don’t have the means to compost. What I do is keep a small trash can by the sink with biodegradable bags. I try to put the food items that would normally go down the drain (as much as possible) into those, which then go into the recycle bin. They may end up in the landfill, but the bags decompose along with the food waste and it doesn’t go into the ocean. Leslie RealSimple [RealSimple ] On Behalf Of Terri McLaughlinSaturday, September 29, 2007 11:36 AMRealSimple Subject: [RealSimple] Garbage Disposals... Hi all I haven't posted much, but I've been reading the digests pretty much all the time so i'm still here. I'm working to settle into the new house in FL and keep it "simple" lol It is SO not easy. lol And FL is AWFUL when it comes to recycling and all that.. I'm totally disappointed... But anyway, I was wondeirng about garbage disposals... are they environmentally friendly in any way? I know composting is the best bet for food garbage but I have no need for compost since i'm not a gardener. Plus I'd have no clue how to start (maybe someday in the future, but right now things are too bonkers). So is it better to put scraps through the disposal instead of the trash? Or is it just waste of electricity & water? IOs the point of them really to just save the drains form clogs? or is there more to it? I'v enever had one before, but now I do so I need info please. terri Check out the hottest 2008 models today at Autos. See what's new at AOL.com and Make AOL Your Homepage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 29, 2007 Report Share Posted September 29, 2007 The thing about pushing food items down the disposal is that it ultimately ends up in our drains and oceans. We live in a small condo and don’t have the means to compost. What I do is keep a small trash can by the sink with biodegradable bags. I try to put the food items that would normally go down the drain (as much as possible) into those, which then go into the recycle bin. They may end up in the landfill, but the bags decompose along with the food waste and it doesn’t go into the ocean. Leslie RealSimple [RealSimple ] On Behalf Of Terri McLaughlin Saturday, September 29, 2007 11:36 AM RealSimple [RealSimple] Garbage Disposals... Hi all I haven't posted much, but I've been reading the digests pretty much all the time so i'm still here. I'm working to settle into the new house in FL and keep it " simple " lol It is SO not easy. lol And FL is AWFUL when it comes to recycling and all that.. I'm totally disappointed... But anyway, I was wondeirng about garbage disposals... are they environmentally friendly in any way? I know composting is the best bet for food garbage but I have no need for compost since i'm not a gardener. Plus I'd have no clue how to start (maybe someday in the future, but right now things are too bonkers). So is it better to put scraps through the disposal instead of the trash? Or is it just waste of electricity & water? IOs the point of them really to just save the drains form clogs? or is there more to it? I'v enever had one before, but now I do so I need info please. terri Check out the hottest 2008 models today at Autos. Version: 7.5.488 / Virus Database: 269.13.33/1034 - Release 9/27/2007 5:00 PM Version: 7.5.488 / Virus Database: 269.13.33/1037 - Release 9/29/2007 1:32 PM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 30, 2007 Report Share Posted September 30, 2007 - Leslie O'Brien RealSimple Saturday, September 29, 2007 5:57 PM RE: [RealSimple] Garbage Disposals... The thing about pushing food items down the disposal is that it ultimately ends up in our drains and oceans. We live in a small condo and don’t have the means to compost. What I do is keep a small trash can by the sink with biodegradable bags. I try to put the food items that would normally go down the drain (as much as possible) into those, which then go into the recycle bin. They may end up in the landfill, but the bags decompose along with the food waste and it doesn’t go into the ocean. Leslie ************** It's commendable of you for trying to recycle your food scraps but you may be defeating yourselves with how you are doing it. You need to know what and how the recyclables they collect are processed. Unless whoever is taking your recycling(municipal or private contracted recycling hauler)has a set up for collecting separately & recycling this matter you put in the bin, you may be contaminating the other recyclables in the bin. If you put the bags of food waste in w/glass or metal, the recycling company is either not going to process a bin of glass that's got other waste in the bin(imagine if you are a recycling worker & has to pick through smelly, ickier bags of food matter to get the glass or metal, etc. out), or they are going to clean the glass before processing using high powered water pressure, therefore, your food scraps are causing the company to use extra water instead of you w/your kitchen disposal. If your food matter isn't recycled as such by the garbage company, it might be better to put it into the regular garbage so it ends up in the landfill. If you don't have the desire, space or need for composting, try finding someone in your area who will take the raw matter and use it. Is there a freecycle or something where you live? If so, put a post on there offering free compostable material to any gardeners. If there is a gardening group or a community garden where you live? They would prolly jump at the chance for free composting matter! Just something to chew on.... sluggy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 30, 2007 Report Share Posted September 30, 2007 I was just thinking about that the other day. The disposal company IS contracted to sort all our recyclables, but I really have no idea whether they do it. Leslie RealSimple [RealSimple ] On Behalf Of Sluggy Saturday, September 29, 2007 8:54 PM RealSimple Re: [RealSimple] Garbage Disposals... ************** If your food matter isn't recycled as such by the garbage company, it might be better to put it into the regular garbage so it ends up in the landfill. Just something to chew on.... sluggy Version: 7.5.488 / Virus Database: 269.13.33/1037 - Release 9/29/2007 1:32 PM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 30, 2007 Report Share Posted September 30, 2007 Our city only collects yard waste, so I throw the stuff in there. All other recyclables we have to take to various collection points around the county. You'd think California would be more proactive, but they aren't. Neither are my neighbors, only one other one besides us collects their recyclables. They even collect a CRV on each plastic and glass bottle that you can collect back if you take it to a collection point. But noone does it. And that's just my block. :-(Cyndi In a message dated 9/29/2007 8:54:22 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, arcure writes: It's commendable of you for trying to recycle your food scraps but you may be defeating yourselves with how you are doing it. You need to know what and how the recyclables they collect are processed. Unless whoever is taking your recycling(municipal or private contracted recycling hauler)has a set up for collecting separately & recycling this matter you put in the bin, you may be contaminating the other recyclables in the bin. If you put the bags of food waste in w/glass or metal, the recycling company is either not going to process a bin of glass that's got other waste in the bin(imagine if you are a recycling worker & has to pick through smelly, ickier bags of food matter to get the glass or metal, etc. out), or they are going to clean the glass before processing using high powered water pressure, therefore, your food scraps are causing the company to use extra water instead of you w/your kitchen disposal. If your food matter isn't recycled as such by the garbage company, it might be better to put it into the regular garbage so it ends up in the landfill.If you don't have the desire, space or need for composting, try finding someone in your area who will take the raw matter and use it. Is there a freecycle or something where you live? If so, put a post on there offering free compostable material to any gardeners. If there is a gardening group or a community garden where you live? They would prolly jump at the chance for free composting matter!Just something to chew on....sluggy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 5, 2007 Report Share Posted October 5, 2007 Florida is yucky too. Recycling is optional so no one chooses the option. They only pick up 1 & 2 plastics, glass, and cans. Newspaper only can be brought to a recycling center in the county. They don't recycle cardboard at all (sucks for all my moving boxes - no one on freecycle would take them!). And they don't take all the other paper stuffs. Disappointing. But then too we're surrounded by WATER yet are constantly in a state of drought - hello, let's de-salt some of the ocean that's out there. But to them its a long term benefit when its better to just limit all the water consumption and let fires break out all over the state... its absurd. AND they have NO type of auto inspection for anything, including emissions. I will say Jersey was very STRICT on that one. For such a large state, i was expecting more. terri RealSimple , cyndikrall wrote: > > > Our city only collects yard waste, so I throw the stuff in there. All other > recyclables we have to take to various collection points around the county. > You'd think California would be more proactive, but they aren't. Neither are > my neighbors, only one other one besides us collects their recyclables. They > even collect a CRV on each plastic and glass bottle that you can collect back > if you take it to a collection point. But noone does it. And that's just my > block. :-( > > Cyndi > > In a message dated 9/29/2007 8:54:22 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, > arcure writes: > > It's commendable of you for trying to recycle your food scraps but you may > be defeating yourselves with how you are doing it. You need to know what > and how the recyclables they collect are processed. Unless whoever is > taking your recycling(municipal or private contracted recycling hauler)has > a set up for collecting separately & recycling this matter you put in the > bin, you may be contaminating the other recyclables in the bin. If you put > the bags of food waste in w/glass or metal, the recycling company is either > not going to process a bin of glass that's got other waste in the > bin(imagine if you are a recycling worker & has to pick through smelly, > ickier bags of food matter to get the glass or metal, etc. out), or they are > going to clean the glass before processing using high powered water > pressure, therefore, your food scraps are causing the company to use extra > water instead of you w/your kitchen disposal. If your food matter isn't > recycled as such by the garbage company, it might be better to put it into > the regular garbage so it ends up in the landfill. > If you don't have the desire, space or need for composting, try finding > someone in your area who will take the raw matter and use it. Is there a > freecycle or something where you live? If so, put a post on there offering > free compostable material to any gardeners. If there is a gardening group > or a community garden where you live? They would prolly jump at the chance > for free composting matter! > Just something to chew on.... > sluggy > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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