What Can I Put Down The Garbage Disposal?

Garbage disposals are made for the small scraps left on your plate after eating, nothing more. Too often we try to push the limits on these devices and customers find themselves with unwanted clogs or jammed disposals hindering the daily chore of dishes.

What isn’t allowed in disposal? Find a short list of the things we’ve come across over the years causing issues for customers. Its not always about what can the garbage disposal handle, sometimes we have to consider if the drain line can carry it to sewer properly once the disposal has broken it down.

What should not be put in garbage disposal?

• Lemon peels

-They get caught in the sides of the blades, and oftentimes won’t go down drain.

• Potato peels/ banana peel

-These peels don’t chop up very well and can create a mush that is hard to drain.

• Pasta, oatmeal, rice

-Items like these are sticky and expand in pipe causing drainage issues.

• Childs toy/Non-Food items

-We’ve seen someone try to get rid of a toy without throwing it away in the trash, garbage disposal is never the answer.

-As a rule of thumb, foreign objects should never be put down the drain.

• Egg shells

-They don’t go anywhere they just float in your kitchen drain, even if you use a jet machine to forcefully remove the shells the are moved around then settle back in the drain line and can cause build up in the line over the years.

• Small bones

-This will cause the garbage disposal to jam up and stop working

• Stringy foods or vegetables/ flower stems

-Excessive celery string can get wrapped up in the blade of a garbage disposal- a corn husk will not do well either for the same reason.

-Additionally the stems of roses will attempt to be shredded by the garbage disposal and become sectioned off into stings causing the same effect.

• Grease-Oil-Fat

-You don’t put these down any drain- not even a toilet. These items get stuck to the pipe, and make the diameter of the pipe smaller- which doesn’t allow for proper flow.

-Can I put hot grease down if I run the hot water with it?

-No, any amount of grease will cause a clog over time, even the smallest amount.

• Fish tank rocks

-Cleaning a fish bowl in kitchen can lead to a jam if the small rocks get down the drain

• Holiday leftovers

-These large amounts of food should be thrown out- never put down garbage disposal.

TIP: Always run water when turning on the garbage disposal!

If you find yourself in a situation where you’ve already made these mistakes and need professional help getting your drain lines in order go here for more information. https://www.jdprecisionplumbing.com/plumbing/drain-cleaning/

Green Option!

Consider Composting instead of putting these items down your disposal! Here is a list of items you can compost.

(See below for a few things from our list that shouldn’t be composted.)

• Fruits and vegetables
• Eggshells
• Coffee grounds and filters
• Tea bags
• Nut shells
• Shredded newspaper
• Cardboard
• Paper
• Yard trimmings
• Grass clippings
• Houseplants
• Hay and straw
• Leaves
• Sawdust
• Wood chips
• Cotton and Wool Rags
• Dryer and vacuum cleaner lint
• Hair and fur
• Fireplace ashes

Items from our list not to compost.

• Fats, grease, lard, or oils*
  - Create odor problems and attract pests such as rodents and flies
• Meat or fish bones and scraps*
  - Create odor problems and attract pests such as rodents and flies

Here is a website to learn more about composting, https://www.epa.gov/recycle/composting-home