Garbage Disposal Units (Chapel Hill: chapel, house, new construction)

[Jdatlas]

Up here in MA I don't have a garbage disposal unit and I am perfectly happy not to have one as I hear too many horror stories about injuries and things that shouldn't be put down them being put down them. I was just saying to my husband that I hope we don't have one when we move to Chapel Hill. He reminded me that the climate will be much warmer so it might be preferable to have a garbage disposal rather than having rotting food in the trash. So my question is: Do most kitchens come equipped with a garbage disposal unit and is there a problem with smelly trash because of the heat? And what are the best ways to combat the smell if there is one?

[Desdemona123]

Originally Posted by Jdatlas

Up here in MA I don't have a garbage disposal unit and I am perfectly happy not to have one as I hear too many horror stories about injuries and things that shouldn't be put down them being put down them. I was just saying to my husband that I hope we don't have one when we move to Chapel Hill. He reminded me that the climate will be much warmer so it might be preferable to have a garbage disposal rather than having rotting food in the trash. So my question is: Do most kitchens come equipped with a garbage disposal unit and is there a problem with smelly trash because of the heat? And what are the best ways to combat the smell if there is one?

Yes, trash smells in the heat. I am not sure what you mean by "And what are the best ways to combat the smell if there is one?" If you have one, you can put your non-compostable organic (smelly) rubbish down it and it doesn't smell. It's the trash in the can that stinks if you arent' careful.

Oh, and yes, most homes come with them. Not sure what horror stories you've heard...but really...a little care (and I do mean little)....they are great. I can't imagine living without one.

[Lizardlips]

Originally Posted by Jdatlas

Up here in MA I don't have a garbage disposal unit and I am perfectly happy not to have one as I hear too many horror stories about injuries and things that shouldn't be put down them being put down them. I was just saying to my husband that I hope we don't have one when we move to Chapel Hill. He reminded me that the climate will be much warmer so it might be preferable to have a garbage disposal rather than having rotting food in the trash. So my question is: Do most kitchens come equipped with a garbage disposal unit and is there a problem with smelly trash because of the heat? And what are the best ways to combat the smell if there is one?

I don't have one because I am on septic
I have never in my life not had one, and it seems almost crazy that people still don't have them, but I guess for the sake of the septic, we must throw our smelly rotting food into the trash. Go figure

[toot68]

Anything that qualifies as rotten or smelly goes in our compost bin. Prior to the baby, we'd go three weeks without a trip to the dump.

[Desdemona123]

Originally Posted by toot68

Anything that qualifies as rotten or smelly goes in our compost bin. Prior to the baby, we'd go three weeks without a trip to the dump.

You put meat prodcts in your compost? I've always been taught that is a huge no-no.

[tsmithgolf2000]

Originally Posted by Lizardlips

I don't have one because I am on septic
I have never in my life not had one, and it seems almost crazy that people still don't have them, but I guess for the sake of the septic, we must throw our smelly rotting food into the trash. Go figure

You can have one on a septic, I have one and there is a cartridge you install on it that pumps an enzyme down to the septic which helps break down the food. Now I am still carefull about what I put down there but I do use it. You do have to replace the cartridge about every 4 months.

[toot68]

Originally Posted by Desdemona123

You put meat prodcts in your compost? I've always been taught that is a huge no-no.

Wife is a vegetarian, so it is rare that we have meat scraps. When we do (or if we have some cheese go bad), we stick used to stick it in the freezer till we went to the dump (now we stick it in the diaper genie )

[wanderintonc]

I did notice those units in every house we've looked at in NC (all new construction). I've never had one and don't want it-seems dangerous with kids, and um, me , around. I just put the potentially smelly stuff into a shopping bag (a small plastic bag I mean, like a grocery store bag) and put it into the outside can immediately. I never have smell problems, and it was 95 here in Ct today (and I have no ac in this house). THe can outside stinks sometimes, but it's outside so I don't care, lol.

[Jdatlas]

Originally Posted by wanderintonc

I did notice those units in every house we've looked at in NC (all new construction). I've never had one and don't want it-seems dangerous with kids, and um, me , around. I just put the potentially smelly stuff into a shopping bag (a small plastic bag I mean, like a grocery store bag) and put it into the outside can immediately. I never have smell problems, and it was 95 here in Ct today (and I have no ac in this house). THe can outside stinks sometimes, but it's outside so I don't care, lol.

Wanderintonc, I worry that they are dangerous with the kids and me too. That's why I don't really want one either.

[Desdemona123]

Originally Posted by Jdatlas

Wanderintonc, I worry that they are dangerous with the kids and me too. That's why I don't really want one either.

Okay...how do you think they are dangerous? What do yo think your kids are going to do?

At most, you can always unplug it (some have plugs under the sink....others you have to have disconnected).