Is it better for the environment to dispose of food in the garbage (landfill) or use the garbage disposal?

Answer 1

That is a very good question. Since the food that goes into the garbage disposal eventually goes into your city's sewage plant( and who knows what happens there) I think it might be better in the landfill. The treatment plant will use things to break all of it down so that it is acceptable to be sent back into the water sources,creeks, rivers, etc. That water somehow does not taste as good as ground water, and the food never has the same nutritional qualities either. So, if you want to be kinder to the environment, I would send it to the landfill or simply dispose of it if you have any land in which you can use it. The landfill eventually nourishes the land with it's contents, but also has a lot of problems because of the toxic items being disposed of. Making a compost using the fruits and vegetable skins, egg shells,coffee grounds is simple and can be done in something no larger than a large coffee can or lidded bucket. It is the best possible thing we all can do to dispose of our food that we are not using. What you end up with is a very good growing medium and can be used in flower pots and gardens to grow food or anything else.

Answer 2

In the garbage/landfill because in the disposal it goes back into the water supply and has to be recycled but with all that gunk in it and your plumbing will stay cleaner too. I have heard that drugs have been detected in tap water because some people flush them down the toilet (bad idea).

Answer 3

If you dispose of waste that contains carbon in a landfill you are sequestering carbon.

If you put that waste in the garbage disposal and down the sewer it will ultimately break down to greenhouse gases, primarily methane and carbon dioxide.

In my opinion it is better to sequester the carbon in the landfill.

Answer 4

I say garbage disposal, because land fill space is limited. My wife says trash, because we don't have to use water and electricity, which we pay for, to dispose of it that way. But one day when we forgot to put out the trash for pickup and we ran out of room in the trash can, she reversed her opinion. Until we emptied the trash. Then she went back to opposing use of the disposal. I view the world world as a house with a nearly full trash can and she views our water and electric bill going up.

Answer 5

Organic waste is responsible for 70% of contamination in Land fills if it goes out with the trash ,so please do not do this,
the organics ferment mix with dangerous metals and leech contaminants down into subteranean water suplies ,or streams for many thousands of years

Burning is the worst you can do.
trash includes plastics ,and worst of all styrofoam ,
the smoke from this is pure poison for the air one of the greatest factors towards aipolution like burning tires
please dont burn trash

and leaves are the trees way of making top soil
one should never burn leaves but place them around trees to add to their food

or use them to make compost

a general note on compost

bones,treetrunks,cardboard,egg... clothes(if they are organic),poop,leaves,kitchen waste,foodscraps,newspaper,
and kitty litter


All can be put on the compost heap

as long as you seal it with a covering of leaves .or put a piece of plastic on top ,
keep it moist and in the shade ,it will then get hot enough to kill all parasites

the worms will devellop,and take care of everything ,the moisture helps decomposition

the plastic keeps in the moisture and protects the worms from predators .like chickens ,birds armadillos,and even dogs .i have seen going in to eat my worm culture

you could add a bit of lime now and again
to make the process more potent

HOW
make the compost in a shallow hole ,so that it retains more humidity,
about 2 square meters is good ,and have it under a tree or put a little roof over i t,which does not have to be water proof ,so a palm thatch is enough,

and makesure the garden sprinkler gets there or spray some water on it ,at least once a week,dont have it water logged or the worms will drown or leave




RECYCLING
Cardboard is also acceptable for recycling

so is glass if you classify it in colors,and
aluminium cans

Answer 6

Iam not sure which is better in the long run, I would guess landfill. have you considered composting? I suppose you would need a yard or garden to use it in, but it is a great way to reinvest food scraps into the earth

Answer 7

Personally, I always figured if it goes to the landfill, at least the critters that live there get something to eat, too.

Answer 8

The answer is C, for none of the above or "compost."