Definitely a garbage disposal.

When it comes to better homes, having a garbage disposal is an absolute must. Also having a system such as you reference could be great as well, but it would't take the place of a disposal for me.

This Excell model Insinkerator is now the only one with a stainless steel grind chamber.

I would love to connect a disposal to the outside compost system via separate waste line. I have the perfect setup as previous plumbers never closed up wall, which is terra cotta block.

terrefirma, that sounds like a fantastic idea! Wish DH would consider this, but with his work-load of demo, plumbing, framing, brick-work, and electrical (plus our week-day jobs), I'm positive if I suggested it he'd leave me! LOL! I'll just have to use a compost bucket under the sinks : ) OTOH, I don't intend now to use a composter, but rather just work leftovers into the garden soil as I've heard from others this works well - less fuss and muss.

I don't like garbage disposals because you have to put your hand in there occasionally to clear out something, so when I had a chance to get rid of it, I did. I want to add that garbage disposals put more stress on city water filtration systems.

In SF you may not have the space for it, but I use a compost heap out beyond the bushes in my back yard. The bushes back up to some woods so no neighbor has to look at this. My son also has a large plastic box with dirt and worms in it that's back of our garage. Food waste goes in there, too, and the dirt that comes out of it is good for our garden. Son is graduating soon with a degree in Sustainability Studies, so green options are important in our house.

We used to have a garbage disposal. A few years ago, we gave our kitchen a facelift (new counters, new sink, new appliances) and I asked my wife if she wanted a garbage disposal. She said "absolutely not" because they have a habit of getting gunky and smelly even when "cleaner" is used regularly. No more odors and no worrying about a piece of cutlery being in there by accident. Besides, it's just one more thing to go on the fritz and have to be replaced. Simple is better. BTW, Pallet & Pallette- not all "better homes" have a disposal. Pretty snooty comment if you ask me.

I think that there should at least be room for a garbage disposal. And for the high powered Insinkerator, which is longer than earlier models, the sump needs to be low enough to fit.

Most American potential home buyers are probably going to want a garbage disposal. I think it takes dedication and commitment on the part of home owners to use a complicated system for taking care of food waste.

We have garbage disposals in our houses but we almost never use them. I keep a strainer over the drain where the GD is and put whatever is caught in it in the trash.

A lot of people overuse the garbage disposals, and this can cause big problems. A friend of mine is an engineer for the City of Los Angeles and designs sewers and water systems for the city. He told me that it is better for the system to use the garbage disposal as little as possible. I definitely do not want to have sewer problems.

One of the worst things you can put in a garbage disposal is pasta or spaghetti. That can do a good job of clogging up your sewer. I see no reason why food should be going into the sewer system.

I live in Ontario and they are no longer legal due to the effect on the environment. You can still find them in some stores but plummers are not allowed to install. We have a great, non-complicated recycle program which helps. Hope that other countries will soon follow suit. Every little bit counts.

It does not seem complicated at all to live without a garbage disposal. You use an insert in the drain that catches debris, and you empty it into the garbage or compost when you are finished cleaning up. But I can't say for certain because I've always had a disposal, but that's what people did before garbage disposals, and I assume that's what many still do. We never intentionally put food prep scraps in ours because in our house that leads to expensive plumbing bills, so now we're trying to decide if we should ditch it altogether.