In the journalists' quest to constantly generate story ideas, a simple solution is to look within. And with the kitchen in my (fairly) new rental apartment, that means adjusting to equipment that is new to me. Now that I'm familiar with my ceramic hob , it's time to move on to another point: garbage collection.
Invented by John Hammes in 1927, the machine uses blunt wheels to shred food waste and direct it to your local sewage treatment plant, saving you the trouble of removing leftover food from your sink after washing dishes and (sometimes) diverting waste to landfill. Here's what you need to know about cleaning and maintaining your garbage truck.
How to use your rubbish collection correctly
It all starts with good use. The first thing to remember is to only use cold water when working with it, which will prevent grease and grease residue from building up in the machine. ( Plus, don't pour grease, grease, or oil down the drain in the first place.) Second, running it while the kitchen sink is still full of dishes is probably not a good idea. or the spoon falls. down the drain and possibly wreak havoc inside the disposal.
When you're ready to say goodbye to food waste, run the cold water, open the garbage disposal, slowly feed small scraps of food, and keep the water running until the snoring stops. before closing the drain and then the water. (Large food waste should be cut into smaller pieces before disposal.) Flushing the disposer with water moves food through the system, which helps eliminate odors.
What is allowed in the trash can and what is not?
According to the source, advice on what to throw away and what not can be conflicting. However, there are some cases where everyone agrees, e.g. B. Do not throw plastic, glass, metal and other non-food items down the drain. Other items that are better suited for compost or bedding are large bones, clams, and oyster shells (I'd stay away from all shellfish exoskeletons, just to be safe), and fibrous vegetables and leftovers like corn husks, artichokes, peels, and onions celery . While the instruction manual for my kitchen model says eggshells are fine, other manufacturers advise against it in bulk, so I plan to throw them in the trash just to be safe. Plumbing experts also advise against starchy foods like pasta or rice, which can expand when wet and clog pipes. Almost everything else is fair game to throw away, including small pits and fruit pits that can help clean out the milling chamber.
How to clean your trash can and control odors
One place of potential smells and other general roughness to watch out for is the baffle, also known as the rubber splash guard. Of course, I haven't even thought about it in the seven months I've lived in my apartment up until last week, and let's just say I'll never neglect it for so long again. Luckily, cleaning is easy enough to do every few weeks depending on how much junk you're getting rid of. The baffle is removable on some disposers, which means you don't forget to clean it with soap and water or put it in the dishwasher. If it is not removable, unplug the trash can or turn off the circuit breaker before cleaning the floor with a sponge or old toothbrush. (So what There are no sharp blades in the bins, although you should not put your hand in them without first turning off the power). And while you're at it, be sure to clean the smooth, sloping surface on top of the shredder as well. Camera.
If you follow all of the above steps and are still experiencing foul odors, fill the sink half full with water, add about 1/4 cup of baking soda, at the same time remove the stopper and turn on the grinder until the water is drained . For extra fragrance support, add citrus peels for a fresh scent. (Contrary to some advice, citrus peels won't help clean the unit, and neither will ice cubes.) Avoid throwing drain cleaners and other harsh chemicals in the trash, which can damage both the unit and the plumbing .
after these The rules should keep your garbage disposal in tip-top shape for years to come. If it's clogged or you have other problems, consult your garbage disposal manual before calling a plumber.
Are the garbage cans ecological?
A final consideration is how much trash you should throw in the trash versus the trash can in terms of environmental impact. (As a reminder, composting is the best option for treating food waste in an environmentally friendly way, aside from reducing it initially.) Unfortunately, the answer is that it depends on factors such as: B. whether your community has an adequate water supply and what your sewage system does with the waste.
"Anything that separates from the water is dumped in landfills, condenses into fertilizer, or is digested by microorganisms," writes Jacob Leibenluft for Schiefer . The latter option produces methane that can be captured and burned as an energy source. "Sewage and environmental experts agree on that. . . Disposal makes sense when your sanitation system is designed to turn food waste into energy," writes Katherine Roth for The Associated Press . However , only about 8% of wastewater treatment plants in the United States use anaerobic digesters that do. The Water Environment Federation has an interactive map on their website that you can use to check if your local facility is using anaerobic digestion. (For Washingtoners, the Blue Plains Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant uses anaerobic digestion.)
And for the 16% of households that use septic tanks , there's another aspect to consider . "Using an under-sink waste disposal unit can affect how often you need to pump your septic tank," says the Environmental Protection Agency . "If you must use a waste disposal unit, your tank will need to be pumped more frequently."
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