Food Waste: Are InSinkerators Good For The Environment?

Are you wondering about your household’s food waste environmental impact? Do you want to know how to dispose food waste at home in a more eco-friendly manner? 

Well, it turns out installing an Insinkerator can deliver some great environmental benefits. However, before we explore what these are, let’s just touch on the problem of food waste and find out just how big an issue it is. 

How much food is wasted in Australia? 

Scraping your plate into the rubbish bin might seem like a menial part of your daily routine. Most people don’t think twice about how the disposal of a banana peel or meal scraps can contribute to issues of global environmental importance.

However, the truth is that food waste in Australia is estimated to be approximately 7.6-million tonnes! Landfills globally take in more weight in food products than they do in plastic, paper or other common disposable materials.

Why is food waste a problem?

Food waste presents many unique problems for both the environment and public health. For one, discarded food is a breeding ground for bacteria and moulds, some of which are dangerous health hazards. Food scraps can also attract bugs, rodents and larger pests.

How does food waste affect the environment? 

When food is decomposing, it produces methane gas. Methane is a valuable substance that can be used for heat or light. However, methane is also a greenhouse gas that is 20 times stronger than CO2 (in terms of its detrimental effects on the environment). As a result, when this gas is released into the atmosphere at uncontrolled rates through rotting organic material, this poses major environmental risks.

High methane levels are also an air quality concern, as its presence reduces the amount of oxygen available in the atmosphere. This can be linked to a variety of symptoms, including memory loss, nausea/vomiting, slurred speech, blurry vision, headache and loss of consciousness. Prolonged exposure to methane at high levels can even be fatal.

Food waste disposal - are Insinkerators environmentally friendly? 

In a nutshell - yes, they are! A terrific way to mitigate your household’s environmental impact is to install a food waste disposer like the Insinkerator. 

From Environmental Waste to Energy

While it may not seem environmentally conscious to discard food scraps using your city’s water system, food waste is made up of almost  70% water in the first place. Therefore, using a garbage disposal to process and eliminate food waste is a natural, logical and responsible option. If you live in a municipality with an advanced water treatment system, the food scraps from your Insinkerator food waste disposer can be recycled into green energy and fertiliser products.

With a modern wastewater system, solid food scraps from an Insinkerator are filtered out and then sent to a traditional landfill, incinerator or another facility. Ideally, they’ll end up at an anaerobic digestion facility, which converts the waste into energy, and in turn, helps power your city and your home. Anaerobic digestion of food waste is a cutting-edge form of recycling that simply requires the flick of a switch!

If you do not have a municipal wastewater treatment system, installing an insinkerator is still a practical option, and it ensures the food scraps are small enough to travel safely through your septic system (Isinkerators also help avoid blocked drains).

Insinkerator maintenance

Garbage disposals offer a more environmentally friendly alternative to food waste disposal. Get some great tips here on how to care for and maintain your Insinkerator. 

Other ideas on how to reduce food waste at home 

Plan grocery shopping and volumes 

The best way to make a difference to the environmental consequences of food waste is to simply reduce the amount you generate. A great way to try and do this is to plan ahead when grocery shopping or cooking your meals. Try to gauge how much of each food item you will need in advance.

Composting 101

If you’re looking for a way to reduce your waste, composting is a great way to minimise the effect discarded food has on the environment. 

Composting is the practice of collecting your food waste and allowing them to decompose naturally. Once the food scraps have gone through the natural decomposition cycle, you’re left with rich, black soil that can be used as potting soil or garden fertiliser.

There have been many new developments in the art of composting, such as the composting grinder. This device is a “smart” garbage disposal that grinds scraps and then collects them in a unit under the sink. This unit can then be emptied into your own compost bin, where the small, pre-ground pieces will decompose more quickly into nutrient-rich soil.

Insinkerator Maintenance and Repair in Sydney

If you live in Sydney or the surrounding area and you want to change how your food waste impacts the environment, it’s time for you to consider the Insinkerator garbage disposal. Contact Pav Plumbing today for installation. Our expert team also offers Insinkerator maintenance, as well as routine and emergency plumbing services.