Energy Efficient Garbage Disposals

Garbage disposals can be energy efficient.

If you cannot compost your food scraps, they end up in the trash or chopped up in a garbage disposal. While most garbage disposals do not use much energy, there are models that are even more efficient.

Types

Garbage disposal brands that boast their energy efficiency are found at most hardware or plumbing stores. Waste King manufacturers the Legend Series garbage disposals that claim to be more energy efficient than other disposals. If your garbage disposal is more than ten years old, most newer models will be more efficient.

Identification

The U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Star system does not grant any garbage disposal with the Energy Star rating. When shopping for a new garbage disposal, you can check each disposal's packaging for information about its energy consumption to compare efficiency.

Considerations

You can keep your disposal running as efficiently as possible by keeping it maintained and using it properly. Keep the blades sharp by running ice through the disposal, and clean the system with vinegar, regularly. Run the disposal until it makes a whirring sound. Do not try to grind too much food at once, and avoid sending fibrous foods into the disposal.

References

• Humboldt County: Garbage disposals
• Waste King: Home page
• Energy Star: Products