disposer

A disposer, short for garbage disposer or waste disposer, is a household appliance installed under a kitchen sink that grinds food waste into a slurry suitable for flushing through the plumbing system. It is designed to reduce the volume of solid waste sent to landfills and to simplify post-meal cleanup. Disposers are typically used for ordinary food scraps but are not appropriate for non-food items, grease, or bones that can jam or damage the machine or plumbing.

Most disposers are electrically powered and connect to the sink drain. Inside the grinding chamber, rotating impellers push waste against a stationary grind ring to break it down. There are continuous-feed models, which operate while the switch is on and the waste is fed, and batch-feed models, which require the cover or lid to be closed before grinding. Many units include a dishwasher inlet and an overload safety switch to prevent damage.

The modern residential disposer was popularized in the late 1920s by John W. Hammes, who founded InSinkErator and introduced the first practical electric disposer. Since then, other brands such as Waste King and GE have offered competing models. Availability ranges from compact, low-noise units to higher-power designs with improved corrosion resistance and sound dampening.

Installation generally requires a dedicated electrical circuit (about 110–120 V), a mounting flange under the sink, and a discharge connection to the drain. Maintenance involves running water during use, occasional cleaning with citrus peels or baking soda, avoiding fibrous materials and hard pits, and resetting a jam or overload if the unit stalls.

Environmentally, disposers can reduce solid waste in landfills but increase wastewater flow to sewer or septic systems and may require competent maintenance to prevent clogs.