Obviously it is best to compost food scraps, but that is not always an option.
A recent ABC news article claimed that food scraps were contributing to 'fatbergs' in Brisbane's sewage system. I've heard of wet wipes being a huge problem, and oils make sense, but food scraps is more surprising. So if you can't compost, what's the best way to dispose of food scraps?
If you find that certain foods are contributing to a lot of "scraps," try googling that specific item to find if there is an alternate use for them. If there is none, and you can't find a creative way to reuse or reduce the production of the scrap (see more on this below), then you can consider garbage vs. disposal. In regards to those options, you could find out what happens to items in the garbage in your area - do they go to an incinerator or landfilled? Does your landfill have a compost? Does it have methane capture? etc. Only with that info can you really decide between those two options. But, I hope you would have a lot less "scrap" material if you seek out ways to reduce them to begin with.
The best way to eliminate food scraps is to rethink the idea of a food scrap. I don't mean to be cheeky, but just to suggest that you could find ways to reduce scraps.
For example, some scraps can be fed to your dog or other pet. Some scraps can be reused in another recipe, such as using carrot greens in pesto. Some scraps aren't scraps at all, such as many root peels. Try rinsing/scrubbing carrots or potatoes rather than peeling them and throwing away the peels. Some people cut off the stems of broccoli not realizing they are just as edible as the tops. Apple cores can be used to make apple cider vinegar, blended into applesauce, or even just eaten raw. The bottoms of leafy greens can be planted and will grow more greens again, etc. Eggshells are nutritious and can be broken up and blended into potting soil.
Good day,
The Clean Water Act prohibits the discharge of sludge into U.S. waterways.
Some states prohibit organics from being land-filled, and garbage disposals can contribute to blockages in sewer systems. It is best to contact your local Public Works Department for guidance.
The composition of food scraps depend largely on the household's eating habits, so the answer may vary from household to household. Furthermore, the treatment of refuse and sewage differs from location to location.
One can only give some general guidelines, some of which will be within the domain of knowledge of the customer service departments of sewer and refuse organizations in your community. Other concepts may require inquiring in the environmental departments of your state or perhaps university researchers.
I'll assume you are interested in sustainable living in the wider sense and hope I am correct in that assumption.
Sustainability of a human circulatory system with regard to some fatty acids has one thing in common with the sustainability of a sewage system. Anything that enters in particulate or liquid form and, over time, forms attachments to the inner walls of the conduit will ultimately increase flow resistance until a complete blockage forms.
In the first case, flow resistance generally leads to high blood pressure and possible clot formation with the associated complications. Such a situation may lead to valve wear or heart fatigue, both of which can further lead to lethal malfunction.
In the second case, flow resistance eventually leads to sewage backup and expensive blockage removal procedures.
Whether in sewage or refuse, most fatty acids are biodegradable, meaning they are decomposed by microorganisms, mostly bacteria. What impact that has on buried refuse, exposed refuse, sewage in pipes, or sewage treatment will vary by climate and other factors.
One clear conclusion that a sustainability minded person can draw is basic and invariant by region or municipality: If you shop and cook in such a way that a drop of soap brings your cookware and dishes to squeaky clean (a simple test for fatty acids that cling to and lubricate smooth surfaces) two benefits are likely to co-occur.
