I find that I use my GD mostly at clean-up, when scraping plates and the like. Prep waste is bigger and, for the most part, cleaner. So it's easy to scoop things into the trash or compost container if I don't want to put it down the GD.

We don't have a GD w/ our new prep sink, mainly because we're on septic. I thought I would miss it but after a few weeks I got used to it and our trash cabinet is right next to the sink, so it's easy to clean out the sink and toss in the trash. I also peel things over the trash can, rather than in the sink.

The few people I know with prep sinks without disposers told me its the worst choice they made in a kitchen and they regret it. Those folks use theirs as an ice bucket or a hand washing station and nothing else.

It's very little cost to put one in now, so why not? If you never turn it on (which wont happen) what's the worst that can happen? You have a better functioning sink for the next owner.

The drain for a disposal is a different size hole than a non disposal.

. . . or you could compost all that good vegetable stuff . . . :)

yes- I am trying to be energy efficient and "green" so I guess I wouldn't miss it. I"m just wondering if anyone could have done without it even though they have it. or anyone who has done without it and is not regretting that decision.

I'm one of those who did not do it and regret it now. Like you, we put one in the main sink but not in the prep sink (my DH's idea for cutting costs!). I thought, "oh well, I'm going to start composting, so it won't be too bad". Wrong!

#1, I haven't started composting (although, we are just now finishing up our kitchen & haven't had time to start a new project)

#2, There are lots of other things like the pasta that falls out of the colander or pot that I don't think you compost (am I wrong?), the couple of times my kids dumped dirty plates in the prep sink, and the fact that neither my DH or my kids remember to clean the prep sink when cleaning up (I'm working on that!).

Anyway....I really wish I had put one in (it was only ~200 + installation....which I don't think would have been much in the overall plumbing installation costs!)

You can compost pasta - really, there's very little you can't compost. I avoid dairy items and meat (but happily throw fish skin in there). I don't obsess about removing odd bits of cheese from the salad leftovers though.

Anything that was once a plant can be composted - that includes cereal boxes, paper towels, napkins etc too.

Oops, sorry for the diversion: back to the proper subject!

i had a GD in our last home but now that we've moved we have septic so no disposals. i thought i would miss it but i don't. not at all!

BTW....we have a septic system and our GD is the InSinkerator Septic Assist. We'll see if it really works.

We did not have a GD for the first 12-1/2 years we lived in this house. Prior to that, I had a GD in my townhouse. I really missed the GD the entire 12 years and always said if we remodeled I would put one in....and we have!

[Sara, thanks for the info! I really have to build a compost box to start composting!]

I'm having a disposal in both sinks. We don't compost (just open woods, no garden), so I'll have a "garbage bowl" a la Rachael Ray next to the prep sink to collect veggie trimmings to throw out for the deer and other local critters. But I'm sure I'll have plenty to put down the GD there, too. Wouldn't think of not having one in both sinks.

Are prep sinks expensive? Ask a silly question. lol

Sounds like I fit the description of someone you'd like to hear from. I have always had a disposal in every home for the last 30 years. Never been crazy about them, but I guess they are just sort of considered "standard equipment". This remodel was the first time I also had a prep sink. Guess what? I chose not to put a GD in EITHER sink. One of the simplest decisions concerning the new kitchen, and after 2 years, I have never had the slightest tinge of regret. And I do not have a septic, so that was never a concern. However, to each their own. Just because something is expected has never been reason enough for me to fall in line. I have just never found it to be necessary, so out it went. I have picked up one more use from this thread for my already well-used, non-GD prep sink... a great ice bucket alternative... I may have to try that. Aren't these forums the greatest?

After not having a disposal for 14 years we put one in the sink (main and only sink) in the new kitchen. Possessed by excitement and enthusiasm, we managed to stop the sink up the first night it was oeprational by jamming large amounts of broccoli stems down the disposal. Since then I've limited what I've put into it but I'm loving not having that nasty strainer thing to clean out several times a day (wet scrambled egg bits, bleeh!!).

I put disposals in both sinks because I hate cleaning out the nasty little strainer and hate that I can never get it clean without rinsing the rest down the drain. I also compost. And we have a septic tank and drainfield.

The result is that I don't use them often or for long, but I love having them in both sinks.

Unless one has a single bowl sink, having a GD does not eliminate having to clean out the strainer.

Thank you so much for the advice. Right now I only have a main sink with the 1/4 raised part with the disposal. The main part of the sink has a strainer and I still have to clean it or empty it into the GD side. I am leaning towards no disposal because there should never be food scraps from meals placed in there since the main sink is muchmore convenient to dump dishes and one would have to pass the main sink anyhow to get to the prep sink. Clean food waste would fall into the prep sink but couldn't i just empty out the strainer into the garbage? ( like i did the 10 years i didn't have a disposal or a prep sink)

I don't have one in the prep sink and I have no problem with it. We are on septic and don't even use the one in the main sink.

Contrary to popular belief, GDs are really not a necessity.

I've lived most of my life without a GD for various reasons, and I will say that the one biggest drawback has been American friends and family clogging my drain by automatically dumping food remains into my sink, simply assuming a GD is there. :)

This remodel, I'm putting one in for the first time and am eagerly anticipating non-gooey fingers.

Don't have one, don't have any regrets either! The main sink doesn't have one either...guess it's just our preference. And, reading too much Stephen King as a youngster didn't help either LOL!

On the subject of Stephen King...I would highly recommend a batch disposal. No, I have never seen anyone lose a finger in the other kind, but it just totally gives me the willies. If I had to choose between a non-batch GD and no GD, I would have none.

I agree with the poster who said the GD was more important in the cleanup sink--that's where it get disgusting. Maybe you could put a compost bin right under the prep sink :)