From Jerry Ryder, President of InSinkErator

You may have seen news reports about the surprise decision by the Raleigh, NC City Council to ban installation of food waste disposers. Today we’re pleased to update you that Raleigh has reversed that ban.

Just six weeks ago, without soliciting any public discussion, the Council voted to ban disposers. In response to an outcry from community residents, the Council agreed to review the ordinance.

InSinkErator contributed to this discussion by providing city officials with numerous environmental studies, as well as evidence that ground food is effectively treated by municipal sewers and waste water treatment systems. We also attended City Council meetings to present these facts, and asked relevant experts to join us. These experts included Dr. Kevin Keener, a Purdue University professor of food science, and Kendall Christiansen, former chair of New York City’s Recycling Advisory Board and environmental consultant. We were supported in this matter by the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers.

After hearing all the evidence, on April 15 the City Council voted unanimously to reverse the ordinance and allow disposers. 

With growing concern about mitigating greenhouse gases, it is important that the public and our industry understands the positive role food waste disposers daily play as part of an environmentally friendly, holistic waste management system. Disposers send food waste to wastewater treatments plants that convert organic waste into fertilizer products, and possibly capture energy in the process. Alternatively food waste will end up in a landfill where it contributes to methane gas emissions (a powerful greenhouse gas) and leachate, which can damage ground water. 

We are attaching a brief white paper that is based on the findings of nearly two dozen contemporary studies and further explains these issues.

Links

• Understanding the Environmental Benefits