http://www.greenlivingonline.com/EcoGeek/ask-the-eco-geek-garburators/
(Feb 27, 2007)
All the rage in the ’70s and ’80s, garburators or in-sink disposal units, with their jagged metal teeth and distinctive, fear-inducing mechanical noises, are designed to mulch organics. The waste is flushed through the sewer system and last night’s overcooked mushroom risotto eventually arrives at a sewage plant, where it is separated from the waste water along with the rest of the solid waste (including human) produced by the city. On busy days, about 15 to 20 trucks filled with the resulting bio-solids drive from Toronto to Michigan, where the waste is landfilled.
Toronto’s policy on in-sinkerators is as gray as the bio-solids they produce. "We don’t encourage them or discourage them," a city bureaucrat told me definitively. It turns out the city has two rules in place, depending on whether your home flushes into a single pipe, where storm water and sanitary waste mix, or two separate pipes. In areas with combined sewers - typically older neighbourhoods - garburators are prohibited, while in newer areas serviced by two pipes, the units are legal. To find out which service your home has contact Toronto Water at 416-392-4546 or askwater@toronto.ca.
If the city’s approach seems a little complex, environmentalists find the answer clear: don’t use them. Garburators increase the load on the sewage system and, ultimately, add to the number of trucks travelling to Michigan. And sink disposal units handle the same biodegradables that can be composted and that Toronto’s Green Bin program now accepts. Apartment-dwellers, note: the Green Bin wet-waste recycling program will be extended to all apartments within five years.
Ask the Eco Geek: Garburators
My daughter just bought a home in North Toronto and it has a garburator. A friend told me they are not legal in the city. Why? What’s the deal? -Dr. Ron Allan
All the rage in the ’70s and ’80s, garburators or in-sink disposal units, with their jagged metal teeth and distinctive, fear-inducing mechanical noises, are designed to mulch organics. The waste is flushed through the sewer system and last night’s overcooked mushroom risotto eventually arrives at a sewage plant, where it is separated from the waste water along with the rest of the solid waste (including human) produced by the city. On busy days, about 15 to 20 trucks filled with the resulting bio-solids drive from Toronto to Michigan, where the waste is landfilled.
Toronto’s policy on in-sinkerators is as gray as the bio-solids they produce. "We don’t encourage them or discourage them," a city bureaucrat told me definitively. It turns out the city has two rules in place, depending on whether your home flushes into a single pipe, where storm water and sanitary waste mix, or two separate pipes. In areas with combined sewers - typically older neighbourhoods - garburators are prohibited, while in newer areas serviced by two pipes, the units are legal. To find out which service your home has contact Toronto Water at 416-392-4546 or askwater@toronto.ca.
If the city’s approach seems a little complex, environmentalists find the answer clear: don’t use them. Garburators increase the load on the sewage system and, ultimately, add to the number of trucks travelling to Michigan. And sink disposal units handle the same biodegradables that can be composted and that Toronto’s Green Bin program now accepts. Apartment-dwellers, note: the Green Bin wet-waste recycling program will be extended to all apartments within five years.
Got a pressing environmental question? Ask Steve Bearton, journalist, environmental advocate and the Eco Geek!
4 Comments
posted Oct 16, 2007 - 4:48 pm by Lynn
Trying to make the best choice in the cirumstances: :)I've just read your article on garburators. I agree that composting is the best way to go. HOWEVER, Vancouver doesn't have a green-bin/composting program and I live in a townhouse. I have no where to compost.
My question is: which is the lesser of 2 evils: garburate my organic waste, or mix it in with the nonrecyclable garbage ? .... either way, it sounds like it ends up in the landfill.
posted Oct 25, 2007 - 2:36 pm by Bruce Bradford
Anyone can compost with worms. A small bin with shredded newspaper, red worms, and your kitchen scraps can be kept under your kitchen sink, basement, or garage. It will produce worm compost twice per year that will benefit your houseplants and garden. Search on-line for vermicomposting or worm composting for more information.
posted Dec 14, 2007 - 10:15 am by Rosemarie
I am a conciencous composter. I tried the wormthing but it did not work for me. At the moment I grind my compostabes in my cuinsinart and then put it my enviro compost bin which works like a charm but it is a lot of work. We are now building a new home and I was thinking why don't I install a garburater in a separate sink and send the ground up stuff right into the compost bed. Since our property has the right size and grading, I think this could work. Any comments??Rosemarie
posted Apr 20, 2008 - 9:04 am by Tom Howard
Why are we going backwards, green-bin equals picking up, compost= orders, why not make cities understand the value of Garburators. Yes we will have to redo the city plumbing, Halo the Plumbing has to be redone anyway. And by putting our food waste in the city system and the city put a methanal plant we have a double winner making fuel and no more fuel to pick up garbages. Please see film from India http://www.ashdenawards.org/winners/biotech?t=aa , now if they can do it for less then 200 dollars what are we waiting for.
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