maybe i can help - 20 years in NYC's recycling/waste management field; currently handle environmental affairs locally and nationally for insinkerator, meaning i spend most of my time talking about food waste/scraps with state/local agencies, trade groups, enviros, etc.
1. Disposers fully legal in NYC homes since 1997, following decade of study and pilot project; previously legal in newer areas of city. Battery Park City requires disposers in last set of 'green' residential towers; even NYCHA is installing them.
2. 60% of US homes have at least one; 80%-90% of new homes, including most rated 'green'; new National Green Building Standard awards one point for including. Fast-growing international acceptance, esp in countries challenged by organic waste issues; Stockholm just eliminated restrictions and surcharges; Worcestershire County (UK) offers 80 pound subsidy for their installation
3. Food waste @ 15% of NYC's household waste; food scraps @ 70% water, which makes it heavy, odorous, messy, etc.
4. Food scraps loaded into garbage trucks go to transfer stations and then to distant landfills; methane emissions from landfills a significant source of potent greenhouse gases, which is inefficiently captured. Export costs now over $100/ton.
5. food scraps pulverized in a disposer travel easier through sewers, in a matter of hours reaching the city's 14 wastewater treatment plants; at most, energy is captured for on-site use; since NYC stopped dumping sludge in ocean in 1992, nearly all sludge processed into fertilizer products, most of which meets EPA Class A standards for returning organics to soil.
6. in our 5-6 person household, we've not put ANY food scraps at curb since '97; the 20% of our waste that isn't recyclable/recycled is mostly plastic packaging and soiled paper; local squirrels don't bother our bags, and mouse problem under sink ended.
7. Disposers moderately simple to install, and a no-brainer when remodeling a kitchen. Average cost @ $150 for appliance that will easily last 10-12 years; newest models can handle everything, quieter, fewer jams, etc.
maybe i can help - 20 years in NYC's recycling/waste management field; currently handle environmental affairs locally and nationally for insinkerator, meaning i spend most of my time talking about food waste/scraps with state/local agencies, trade groups, enviros, etc.
1. Disposers fully legal in NYC homes since 1997, following decade of study and pilot project; previously legal in newer areas of city. Battery Park City requires disposers in last set of 'green' residential towers; even NYCHA is installing them.
2. 60% of US homes have at least one; 80%-90% of new homes, including most rated 'green'; new National Green Building Standard awards one point for including. Fast-growing international acceptance, esp in countries challenged by organic waste issues; Stockholm just eliminated restrictions and surcharges; Worcestershire County (UK) offers 80 pound subsidy for their installation
3. Food waste @ 15% of NYC's household waste; food scraps @ 70% water, which makes it heavy, odorous, messy, etc.
4. Food scraps loaded into garbage trucks go to transfer stations and then to distant landfills; methane emissions from landfills a significant source of potent greenhouse gases, which is inefficiently captured. Export costs now over $100/ton.
5. food scraps pulverized in a disposer travel easier through sewers, in a matter of hours reaching the city's 14 wastewater treatment plants; at most, energy is captured for on-site use; since NYC stopped dumping sludge in ocean in 1992, nearly all sludge processed into fertilizer products, most of which meets EPA Class A standards for returning organics to soil.
6. in our 5-6 person household, we've not put ANY food scraps at curb since '97; the 20% of our waste that isn't recyclable/recycled is mostly plastic packaging and soiled paper; local squirrels don't bother our bags, and mouse problem under sink ended.
7. Disposers moderately simple to install, and a no-brainer when remodeling a kitchen. Average cost @ $150 for appliance that will easily last 10-12 years; newest models can handle everything, quieter, fewer jams, etc.
glad to answer questions on/off-line
Posted by: kendallgaia at February 20, 2009 9:50 AM in response to Inside Third & Bond: Week 72