share.triangle.com - Should cities ban garbage disposals? - Comments

Aaaanndd INTO seems to be

Michael M Kennedy — Wed, 21 May 2008 20:03:35 -0400

Aaaanndd INTO seems to be ... ???

Disposals and Grease

David Roper — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 19:07:03 -0400

I'll just buy my disposal replacement in SC when I visit my children. Besides I always pour grease in the toilet. It's easier to hit.

I'm not going to do either. I just wanted to show how little thought went into this "ban". Where's the adults with brains in government these days?

It's not about the disposals

jkellock — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 12:25:56 -0400

The disposal ban never made any sense. If your dog poops on the sidewalk, the city may fine you and make you pick it up in a plastic bag, but they don't tell you to get rid of the dog.

When I grew up (In New Jersey), my mother kept a grease can (actually a coffe can) on the sink and when it was full, she sealed it up and put it in the garbage and started a new one. She did the same until she died, long after she got a garbage disposal.

Maybe the city should do with grease what they did with garbage- Distribute packages of bio-degradable containers we can put our grease in and set them on the curb with the recyclables every week for pickup. They can turn the grease into bio-fuel to run the tools needed to fix all the broken garbage trucks.

Garbage Disposals

Jim — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 08:35:56 -0400

Has the city council ever heard of Grease Traps?
They're supposed to be installed when the property is built and inspected.
If they don't like garbage disposals, they should support
compost bins for disposal. It's enviromental friendly too.
They need to quit acting like regulators run amok!

Garbage disposals

J. Riley — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 07:53:11 -0400

Bought my house in 1979. Disposal broke in 1980. Never replased it and have done just fine without it. Alos
never use dishwashe. These items are unnecessary.

"vermin, roaches and other

Robert — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 20:51:51 -0400

"vermin, roaches and other "unique" animals"? "Has anyone thought about what kind of stench will be created"?

They aren't asking people to toss the waste into the yard behind your house. They are asking that it be placed into a garbage can, bagged, and taken to the landfill just like the rest of the garbage.

Before everyone proclaims themselves an expert on the grease problem, how about take a trip to the sewer plant and see how it works (they do give tours). Then ask the folks at the plant what grease does to the system. Not the plant manager or the mayor, the actual guys who gets dirty working on them everyday. They aren't a self-proclaimed expert, they ARE the expert.

Garbage disposals--no

Ewol_Smith — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 15:43:01 -0400

There is no need for garbage disposals unless you live in a Manhattan skyscraper. Kitchen waste should be recycled in a compost bin, not ground up and included in the water supply. More dicta from the Precious People who can't stand the sight of bare table legs and laundry on the line.

Grease isn't the only problem

Visitor — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 15:18:21 -0400

While grease may be the biggest problem, it isn't the only problem. The municipal sewer system depends on bacteria to digest all the waste in the sewage flow. While it is relatively easy for aerobic bacteria to break down human waste, it isn't so easy for it to break down undigested food scraps. The more non-human digested waste in the flow to the sewer plant, the harder the task of cleaning up the waste becomes. The more people who move to the Raleigh area, the more the problem will be multiplied.

I have seen all sorts of amazing things crammed down sewer lines thanks to garbage disposal units. Some of the more amazing finds were shirts, newspapers, chicken bones, and baby dolls. You would be amazed at how much a kid can cram down a disposal when Mom isn't home. At least I assumed it was kids.

Several folks have posted what appears initially to be a great idea-- installing grease traps. The problem is that this would require a completely separate plumbing system from the sinks to the grease trap. Picture the added cost and problems associated with dual plumbing systems in a 100 unit apartment complex. It would also prove a nightmare when demanding people add this to an existing home.

I would love to tell you that educating people is the answer, but I have worked with the public enough to know it isn't. The vast majority of people are too lazy to walk to a recycling bin with an aluminum can.Do you honestly think they will dispose of their bacon grease into the garbage when the sink is next to their stove?

Wow! I thought the Civil

Visitor — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 14:56:02 -0400

Wow! I thought the Civil War was over and the ridiculous ideas that encompassed that period in the North vs. South. No, the growth issues are not the "northerners" -- there are plenty of Floridians and Georgians that have moved here also -- along with Californians, Michiganers, etc. It is not the "area" of the company that has clogged the system -- it is the lack of growth studies. Do you remember how Cary, NC has been named the #1 place to retire for years? How do you think it got there -- Cary politicians touting their community maybe? Come on -- get with the program. The reason there are issues with water shortages, school overpopulation, etc. is that growth studies were not done appropriately. Also have you notice that there are also illegal immigrants "taking up your precious NC space?" Get over yourself and share the wonderful area we all live in. It doesn't always have to be "north vs. south" issues. Get real!

We need scientific data on sewer clogs.

Visitor — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 13:39:49 -0400

Now is a good time for a careful study of what causes sewer clogs. The overflows are unhealthy, but to blame them on home disposals without some type of evidence makes the political process seem downright silly, rather like pushing for urban infill and the complaining about teardowns.

Reply

Visitor — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 11:48:58 -0400

It's good ol boys...not good ole boys.

Yep -- I agree. I'm really

Visitor — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 11:32:42 -0400

Yep -- I agree. I'm really sorry I relocated here -- not only is there this issue but how about jobs -- I've been unemployed three times since relocating here 5 years ago -- that's ridiculous. There just seems to be no method to the madness in this government. How can this be enforceable? Have these politicians heard of the internet -- you can buy garbage disposals on the internet -- order them on-line from Lowes, Home Depot, etc. So - - what's next? Banning us from garbage disposal searches -- coming into our homes and telling us how to do our laundry, take our showers? If they had gotten smart over 10 years ago and actually performed some growth and impact studies they wouldn't have water, sewer (and even overpopulated highways and schools). These politicians are living in the 50's and 60's -- the "good ole boys" need to be taken out of power and put some real 21st century leadership in place.

Ridiculous

Visitor — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 11:27:35 -0400

What about the added garbage, vermin, roaches and other "unique" animals and problems that the banning of garbage disposals will bring? How about some growth studies, impact studies, proper grease handling and grease traps attached appropriately? It seems like everytime something goes wrong with the Wake County government the public and taxpayers seem to get the brunt of it. What do our politicians get paid to do - come up with garbage solutions like this? Has anyone thought about what kind of stench will be created with throwing out stuff that can easily be put down a drain? Why do you think the Northeast (in general) adopted garbage disposals again? I don't see any "clogging" issues with NYC sewer systems -- and they are a lot older than ones here.

huh?

Visitor — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 10:29:34 -0400

Can someone explain to me what banning garbage disposals has to do with the war in Iraq?? Article in the N&O said: "Stung by the backlash that followed their ban on new garbage disposals, City Council members said Tuesday that critics of the policy are either misinformed or want to hang onto creature comforts while their fellow Americans shoulder the burden of war.
"Where's the shared sense of sacrifice?" asked council member Rodger Koopman, an Air Force veteran, who said giving up garbage disposals is minor compared with the hardships of Iraq. "If you do support the troops, be willing to suck it up just a little bit."

What does one have to do with the other?? Confused!

http://www.newsobserver.com/news/wake/raleigh/story/1005360.html

Garbage Disposal Ban

Tracie — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 10:15:31 -0400

This is really a mute point if you think about it-- unless the City Council plans to repeal the 6th ammendment- the right of the people against unreasonable search and seisure. Does our City Council Militia plan to search all the houses in Raleigh? I doubt it. Just you watch, this will be quietly be repealed, probably again in another closed meeting.

Should cities ban garbage disposals?

karen_mann — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 21:32:40 -0500

Should cities ban garbage disposals? What do you think about this?