By putting an InSinkErator® disposer in your kitchen, you’re doing your part to help reduce
a growing problem. That’s because when food waste is dumped in landfills, bacteria and
other harmful organisms can seep into the ground and contaminate our water.

With an InSinkErator® disposer, food waste is grounded into fine particles and safely flushed
into your sewage system. Decades of scientific studies have shown this to be a sound
ecological alternative. At wastewater treatment facilities, the food waste can be converted
into useful energy, or recycled into agricultural fertilizer.

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Herefordshire (England) study synopsis
This study examines the financial and environmental impacts of food waste disposers and finds that they provide a cost-effective, convenient and hygienic means of separating kitchen food waste at source and diverting it from landfill. The study also finds that this costs less and has a better carbon footprint than other routes.

University of Wisconsin, Life Cycle Comparison
The life cycle analysis is a quantified comparison of total system materials, energy, costs and flows to the environment from acquiring, using and decommissioning five distinct systems currently used to manage food waste. The five systems were food waste disposal through a disposer to a wastewater treatment plant; food waste collection with municipal solid waste to a landfill, compost facility, or incineration facility; and food waste disposal through a septic system. The study was commissioned by the National Association of Heating-Plumbing-Cooling Contractors, with the intention of developing a factual database relative to the environmental and economic worth of different food waste management systems. Dr. Robert Ham of the Civil Engineering Department at the University of Wisconsin was chosen to lead the study. The research was conducted by Carol Diggelmann, a graduate student and a Professor at the Milwaukee School of Engineering. The four-year research project was concluded in January 1998. Significant findings were that the system using a food waste disposer with discharge through a municipal wastewater treatment plant has the lowest municipal cost; least air emissions; converts food waste to a recycled resource; is the most convenient method of food waste disposal; is the most likely method for organics source separation; and, overall, is the most friendly and sustainable food waste disposal option.

University of Delft, Netherlands Study
As food waste disposers were a relatively new concept in the Netherlands, this study was performed, at the request of the Dutch government, to quantify the impact of food waste loading to the Dutch sewer system. Previously, no research had been documented in the Netherlands, which analyzed the effects on the biological wastewater treatment process from the use of food waste disposers. Dr. ir. J. de Koning and Professor ir. J.H.J.M. van der Graaf from the Section of Sanitary Engineering at the Delft University of Technology conducted the study, which was concluded in July 2004. Conclusions were that the organic loading emanating from food waste disposers present negligible impacts to the sewer system or wastewater treatment facility.

University of Griffith Study, Australia
Due to a lack of scientific understanding of the impact of organic waste disposal in Australia, InSinkErator endorsed a study from the University of Griffith. A project team led by Professor Philip H. Jones from the Waste Management Research Unit in the School of Environmental Engineering performed the research. The study focused on the comparison of the environmental effects of food waste disposal through a disposer to a wastewater treatment facility and by home compost bins. The research was concluded in August 1994. The study found that food waste disposer discharge does not present an unmanageable loading on existing municipal wastewater treatment plants, and this disposal option is environmentally more beneficial than a home composting system.

NYC Dept. of Environmental Protection Study
Since the 1970's, New York City had banned the use of food waste disposers in areas served by combined sewers, due to concerns of the discharge of raw sewage into receiving waters during times of extreme wet weather. However, due to positive reports of the impact of disposer loadings on wastewater treatment facilities and mounting public support, Mayor Guiliani authorized a review of the merits of the ban. Thus, the City Department of Environmental Protection conducted an independent pilot program to study the effects of rescinding the ban in combined sewer areas. The 21-month study was concluded in 1997. Due to the findings that the impact of food waste disposer discharge to the sewer system and wastewater treatment plants was de minimus, the New York City Council elected to rescind the ban. This measure was signed into law by the Mayor, effective October 11, 1997.