Wow, that is a lot of questions! I will comment on the ones I can:

I, too, have been told that garbage disposals should not be used with septic systems.

No egg shells, corn cobs, or bones should ever go down a disposal.

You can put any soft or liquid food down the toilet.

If you have septic, you'll need a 500 gallon larger tank, and you should not put stuff that doesn't break down (like eggshells) in the disposer. There are disposers made for septic that you add some kind of enzyme in. I have no idea if they work. Compost!

@pittsburrito

Thanks for this information. This will be ALL new to me but if I can do everything without a garbage disposal I would like to try. I just don't know how that works with the dish drawer. I guess that is a question for my plumber. It will be me and hopefully my husband so there should not be a lot of garbage. Thanks again.

@Seabornman

Thanks for the information. I don't know what size tank we have now but when I had problems earlier in the year, one of the plumbers that came out looked in the Septic and said this one could go a long time before I would even have to have it cleaned out.

Composting is not an option for me for MANY reasons. Thanks

I have only had septic systems and no garbage disposal. But I do have a compost pile that eliminates a lot of the kitchen waste, so typically my garbage can does not smell bad.

in our 2nd property we have a septic system and well. Garbage disposal is a NO...dishwasher is a YES. I keep the correct height lined refuse bin near where I prep and clean .....stuff gets scraped or sponged off and dropped right in. there is a sink strainer as of course bits get into the sink...that gets manually lifted out and scraped off into the bin every other day or so. the practices are natural once you adjust yourself and I encourage family and guests to just leave their plates on the side and I deal with this process myself. Leave a bin of some sort in close proximity so people see and figure out what to do . Dont put in a disposal.

@wiscokid

Thank you so much--those have been my exact thoughts. I have done all of that and yes YUCK!!! I am just afraid I will forget and put something in the sink that would go down the drain.

Thanks for the link. Will that work with any sink? First, I was looking at Blanco or Kraus but I could not get samples for Kraus. I really want a workstation. NO Stainless!!! Because I am not able to go "Sink Shopping" my KD has samples of Franke sinks so when I can, I will look at her samples. I really would like an offset drain. What brand sink do you have?

Thanks again.

@suzyqtexas

Thanks--Composting is not an option for me for several reasons--Number one--Wild animals. The bears are getting closer and closer to our area.

@herbflavor

Thanks--this is making me feel much better--like I can do this. For a very long time I have had a container lined with a plastic bag next to the sink for garbage but I wanted something that was hidden. This is what I am going to have next to my cleanup sink and one next to my prep sink.

Thanks again.

We have a 36" Kraus Kore and we like it very much. It is a workstation, but stainless, and it does have an offset drain.

I'm pretty sure that strainer would fit with any 3-1/2" drain opening?

@wiscokid

Thanks, where did you get the extra strainer basket?

I just ordered two strainers. It was worth the extra $35 or so to have it, and then we have a spare set of other parts if needed as well.

Thanks, so if I have 2 sinks--I should order 4???

We’re on well and septic and have garbage disposals in each of our sinks (4), though I never purposely throw anything down in them. They’re mainly there for the occasional scraps that fall into the drain. Our septic is inspected every year, and it’s always in great condition. I compost everything though….but then I don’t have to deal with bears! My compost “bin” is simply a 32 gallon trash container with holes on the sides which was buried in the ground…so only the lid is visible….still would not be bear-proof though unless it had a HEAVY metal lid with some sort of locking mechanism. If you WANT to compost, there are bear-proof composters that can potentially be buried in the ground.

We have a trash pullout with an included compost container that has a lid. Honestly, the odors are much less when the container is NOT covered, but then we rarely have animal products so mostly veggies and paper products go into the bin….animal products produce much more odor so would need to be emptied much more often.

This is our setup. Get a trash pullout that has a bottom for storage of bags etc.

@wyosue58 I would think three would be fine, you just want to have one extra basket to rotate through into the dishwasher? Unless you want to wash two at a time?

I have septic and 2 garbage disposals. No issues. We don't put a lot down our disposals. Usually a stray peel or food particles that were on plates. No bones, eggshells or coffee grinds.

@User

Thanks, I have no desire to compost. I saw the kind that you have and I am okay with the open one. In the summer I will put everything in the freezer until trash day.

Thanks again.

EDIT:

Did you say you have 4 sinks? Can you tell me where? Is that photo part of your kitchen? If so, what kind of countertop and sink is near the pullout trash?

@wyosue….we have 3 sinks in the main kitchen, and one sink in the scullery (pantry). Where the trash pullout is located, the top is walnut and a copper sink. The other two sinks are porcelain and in the perimiter counters. Our fourth sink (stainless) is in the scullery in a maple top.

Here’s a link to our build…pics of everything in there.

@User

I have no words to express the beauty of your home. Our home in Ohio had lots of trees and landscaping but nothing can even compare to your Beautiful Home.

This home in Wyoming will only have rocks for landscaping. I think they call it zero scaping. The house that we have now--my husband did all of the work and even put in a dry stream bed. I am going to take most of the river rock because that is something very special to me.

I did not see the scullery but I did not know what I was looking for. I am going to have a french door oven like yours and my baking center to the left of the single wall oven.

Thanks for sharing.

Thanks @wyosue58

You can make a really beautiful landscape with rocks! Can be gorgeous.

You will love the french door oven. The only drawback is when you go to baste something or turn things. With a normal oven, if you drip, you are dripping on the inside of the oven door. With a french door, if you drip, it goes on the floor which is why we put a drawer right under the oven. I open it if I’m cooking something that can potentially drip ( you can line it with foil if needed).

My first house was septic , no disposal. Our present camp is septic and came with a disposal. It is only used for occasion scraps that accidentally fall down it or something soupy like unfinished cereal. . I use a covered scrap can. Septic is a eco system that is powered by bacteria breaking down wastes. NO anti bacterial products, bleach, or any other products that kills bacteria should be put down the system. Recently I'm having a hard time finding liquid hand soap that isn't anti-baterial. If I use bleach for any kind of cleaning I dump the bleach water bucket out in the gravel driveway. You also have to be careful what toilet bowl cleaner you use. There is some safe for septic. It will state so on the bottle. I save my empty glass pickle/jelly jars to dispose of oil/grease. There is also special products you can put down the drain to promote healthy balance of bacteria. We just use yeast. The formula on how much and when is on the internet.

There is a tremendous amount of misinformation about garbage disposals and septic tanks:

Things you don't want to put down the disposal:

1. Animal fats other than small amounts

2. significant amounts of oils such as vegetable oils

3. inorganic material (bones, egg shells)

4. Very large quantities of food scraps repeatedly

What's just fine for the disposal and septic:

Small amounts of food waste that you would normally have when rinsing dishes or cleaning veggies.

The things that are problematic for septic tanks are fats - those don't readily break down and can clog a finger system. And fibrous plant solids and inorganic materials that don't biodegrade and have to eventually be pumped out of the bottom of a septic system.

I would argue that you do want a disposal with a septic system because grinding food scraps allows it to break down faster than food scraps that inevitably go down the sink drain without grinding.

Also, small amounts of bleach, antibacterial soap, etc. are not going to significantly impact the function of a septic system. Likewise - adding enzymes is also a waste of money. It's all way too diluted to make a difference in 1000 gallons of poop water.

@User

Thanks--That is a great idea about the drawer.

@functionthenlook

Thanks for the information. I do save jars but I am worried about what to do with pasta water and oil and water.

I am probably using the wrong things. Everything has to be Fragrance-Free.

@Jake The Wonderdog

Thanks for the information.

Wyosue, I dump my pasta water down the sink. I don't think pasta water will harm bacteria. It's mostly liquid anyway.

Jake, maybe inorganic material is feminine hygiene products. Another thing that should not go into a septic system. I keep paper lunch bags near the toilet for guests with a cute little saying not to flush hygiene products.

@functionthenlook

I have always poured pasta water down the drain but lately, I have heard that you shouldn't do that. So glad I am not the only one.

@functionthenlook - of course, I was thinking a kitchen...but wet wipes, hygiene products, q-tips, etc that are not 100% paper should not go down the toilet.

Pasta water is fine. Small amounts of food are fine. Fats should be very limited. Small amounts of bleach, disinfectant, etc are fine. Seriously don't bother with enzymes or additives.

You will always have to pump a septic tank every so often to remove built up solids on the bottom - so I wouldn't get to worried about some egg shells or such. Fats are bad though.

Check our local Code. In our county, we may have a GD when on septic ONLY IF it's a "septic-specific" GD. In our case, we have an InSinkErator Septic Assist. It does inject enzymes each time you use it, whether it does anything, I don't know. We do keep it filled (purchase refills on Amazon, but it lasts a long time.)

Like others, we don't put a lot down it at one time. We primarily use it for scraps from dishes, etc., that are in the sink. We periodically clean the flange and the underside, so it doesn't usually get too bad. If you keep up with it, it's actually pretty quick & easy to clean.

What InSinkErator model is the GD you're having problems with? If it's a "Badger", that's not surprising as Badgers are the builder-grade/cheap GDs. Stick with one at least 3/4 HP.

Septic Assist: https://insinkerator.emerson.com/en-us/shop/insinkerator/insinkerator-evosepticassist

@Buehl

Thanks for the information. We are having our new water line put in soon so I will ask the guy but I have never heard of that. I am sure if that was an issue I would have heard about it.

I think the model we have now is 777, installed in 2003. I would look under the sink but my back went out over a week ago so I don't do any more bending than I have to. Every plumber that has looked at it in the past few years says it is a good model and everything looks good.

I think I am good with not having one if I can just make sure I am careful about not putting anything in the sink that is going to hurt the pipes.

Thanks again.