Down With Food Waste

Let’s work together to keep food waste out of the landfill.

Every year, food waste contributes to 18% of total U.S. methane emissions that come from landfills.1 An average family of four produces about 600 pounds of food waste each year.2 You can help the environment by reducing the amount of food waste sent to landfills and slowing the impact of climate change.

1 U.S. Census Bureau, (2021, October, 21), National Population Totals and Components of Change: 2010-2019, “Monthly Population Estimates for the United States: April 1, 2010 to December 1, 2020 (NA-EST2019-01)

2 U.S. EPA, (2023, April), 2019 Wasted Food Report, “Estimates of generation and management of wasted food in the United States in 2019”

Participating in your green bin program helps divert food waste from landfills.

Green bin programs prevent food waste from reaching landfills, reduce harmful methane emissions and leachate, and create compost. High-quality compost improves soil grade, supports beneficial organisms in the soil, and encourages healthier plants to grow. When plants are healthier, synthetic fertilizers and pesticides can be minimized.

Garbage disposals work hand-in-hand with your green bin program.

Using a garbage disposal in conjunction with your green bin helps divert the maximum amount of food waste from landfills – benefiting your community and slowing the acceleration of climate change. Many wastewater treatment plants are capable of converting disposal waste into renewable energy and beneficial fertilizer.

Here’s how a garbage disposal reduces global warming by sending food waste to your local wastewater treatment plant.

No matter where you live, using a garbage disposal in conjunction with wastewater treatment will lower Global Warming Potential (GWP) by at least 50%.

Source: PE Americas, Life Cycle Assessment, 2011

The disposal grinds food waste into fine particles.

InSinkErator® garbage disposals are designed to grind most types of food waste. The fine particles flow downstream to a wastewater treatment facility. Prior to treatment, foodwaste is 60-95% water1. After treatment, about 7% of food waste remains as biosolids2.

1“Characterization of typical household food wastes from disposers: Fractionation of constituents and implications for resource recovery at wastewater treatment” - Bioresource Technology 183, 2015
2PE Americas, Life Cycle Assessment, 2011

 
50% of U.S. wastewater flows to a Standard treatment plant.

Food waste undergoes wastewater treatment before being discharged back into the environment. The remaining biosolids can be used as fertilizer.

Lowers GWP by at least 50%

50% of U.S. wastewater goes to an Advanced treatment plant.

Anaerobic digesters heat and mix solids without oxygen. Bacteria creates methane which is captured and converted to heat and power. The remaining biosolids can be used as fertilizer.

Lowers GWP by at least 90%

The disposal grinds food waste into fine particles.

InSinkErator® garbage disposals are designed to grind most types of food waste. The fine particles flow downstream to a wastewater treatment facility. Prior to treatment, foodwaste is 60-95% water1. After treatment, about 7% of food waste remains as biosolids2.

1“Characterization of typical household food wastes from disposers: Fractionation of constituents and implications for resource recovery at wastewater treatment” - Bioresource Technology 183, 2015
2PE Americas, Life Cycle Assessment, 2011

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50% of U.S. wastewater flows to a Standard treatment plant.

Food waste undergoes wastewater treatment before being discharged back into the environment. The remaining biosolids can be used as fertilizer.

Lowers GWP by at least 50%

Next
50% of U.S. wastewater goes to an Advanced treatment plant.

Anaerobic digesters heat and mix solids without oxygen. Bacteria creates methane which is captured and converted to heat and power. The remaining biosolids can be used as fertilizer.

Lowers GWP by at least 90%

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A convenient, hygienic solution.

Some organic food waste will create odors, attract pests and become a fertile ground for harmful bacteria. An InSinkErator® garbage disposal is perfect for processing food waste like: meat & fish, cheese & dairy, bones, bread & pasta.

Help your community manage food waste with an InSinkErator® garbage disposal.

The perfect addition to your kitchen, we offer a garbage disposal for every household and budget.

Find the right disposal for your kitchen

Ways you can reduce household food waste.

Shop responsibly.

Resist the temptation to hoard groceries, especially fresh foods that can spoil. Choose shelf-stable foods like canned goods, pastas, rice and legumes.

Shop responsibly.

Plan meals and save leftovers.

Check expiration dates to use foods before they go bad. Plan meals that build on one another and provide leftovers for lunches and second meals.

Plan meals and save leftovers.

Use your garbage disposal more frequently.

With even moderate use, garbage disposals are proven to reduce the amount of food waste in your trash by up to 30%.

Use your garbage disposal more frequently.

Try composting.

Home composting can turn your food scraps and leftovers into fertile soil that boosts the productivity of gardens and landscapes.

Try composting.

Using a garbage disposal is easy!

Never put fats, oils, or grease into a garbage disposal.

  • Run a steady stream of cold water into the sink before turning on the garbage disposal.

  • Turn on the disposal before placing any food waste into it.

  • Gradually feed food waste into the disposal.

  • Avoid putting large amounts of food waste all at once as this may slow the grinding process.

  • Once the food waste has been broken down, turn the disposal off and let water run for a few seconds to flush the drain pipe.