Garbage Disposals

Protect your pipes by keeping food scraps out of the drain

Garbage disposals may make kitchen cleanup feel easier, but they are not the best place for leftover food, grease or scraps. While disposals can break food into smaller pieces, those pieces still travel through your plumbing and into the sanitary sewer system.

Over time, food particles, grease and residue can cling to pipe walls, slow the flow of wastewater and contribute to clogs, backups and costly repairs.

How Garbage Disposals Affect Your Pipes

Your plumbing and sewer system are designed to move wastewater away from your home, not leftover food from plates, pots and pans. When scraps and greasy residue are rinsed down the drain, they can build up inside pipes and create blockages.

These blockages can lead to sewer backups into homes, streets, storm drains and local waterways. The issue can be especially challenging in apartments, condominiums and other high-density housing where many homes share connected plumbing systems.

Keep Food Scraps Out of the Drain

The best way to protect your pipes is to be mindful of what goes down the sink and avoid feeding the garbage disposal.

Good kitchen habits:

Scrape plates into the trash or compost before washing
Wipe pots, pans and cooking utensils with a paper towel before rinsing
Use a sink strainer to catch food particles
Place collected scraps in the trash or compost when appropriate
Avoid using the garbage disposal as a catch-all for leftovers
Absorb oil, drippings, sauces or dressings with a paper towel and toss into the trash
Pour used cooking grease into an empty, heat-safe container like a soup can, then freeze it and throw it in the trash

Sink Drains

Your kitchen sink and garbage disposal may seem convenient, but what goes down the drain can create major problems for your plumbing, local sewer systems, and the environment.

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