Have 2 in my kitchen (main and prep) sink for over 5 years with no issue. I’m not big on disposals but my Mom uses it for a wide variety of food waste with no issues. You are correct that the name is for the line which has various different units based on horsepower. We own the mid-range models.

I bought the InSinkErator Evolution Compact 3/4 HP to replace an old Kenmore-branded Badger 5. It is much quieter and has digested everything I've thrown at it without any jambs. Click the 'See All Buying Options'; there are a number of sellers with disposers in-stock.

I found that the space saver model is only 5/8 HP.

So, I wonder if I’ll need to get the large Evolution Excel 1 HP model that will use up most of the under sink storage space just to be sure it will be able to handle everything or would just adding items more slowly to the 5/8 HP model be enough.

Your choices are not confined to either 1 hp or 5/8 hp disposal.

There is the Insinkerator Evolution Compact 3/4 hp disposal. It is slightly smaller than other 3/4 hp disposals. You always want at least 3/4 hp, do not get a disposal with less than 3/4 hp or you will regret it.

There is also the Insinkerator Evolution Essential Garbage disposal with 3/4 hp - check the measurements, it is slightly larger than the Compact version

https://www.homedepot.com/p/InSinkErator-Evolution-Compact-Lift-Latch-Quiet-Series-3-4-HP-Continuous-Feed-Garbage-Disposal-COMPACT/100466655

https://www.build.com/insinkerator-essential-xtr/s1234624

I’ll need to see if i can make space for the large 1 HP Excel model by moving some of the supplies stored under the sink somewhere else before resorting to the compact models. Maybe 3/4 HP will be enough, but I’m not sure if any of the other features the Excel has to help it handle more difficult to grind foods will be needed.

I see that Lowes carries the Evolution Prestige that looks almost the same as the Evolution Excel and it’s available without waiting until July or August for shipment.

I have had 2 Insinkerator Evolution 1 HP disposals in operation since about 2010. They are working fine, although an LED countertop trigger control on one of them needs to be cleaned, I think (not manufactured by Insinkerator).

On the 1 HP unit, the disposal drain is farther below the sink than many common units, so be sure that the plumbing will still xx drain if you install one. Dimensions should be available on-line.

I took a look under the sink to see what the existing disposal is and found that it’s an Insinkerator Badger 1/2 horspower series. It was installed 2 or 3 years ago in a rush to quickly replace the previous disposal that developed a leak.

I assume the plumbing would need to changed to accomodate an Evolution Excel, but I’d be hiring a plumber to do it. So, unless it just physically cannot fit in the space properly with the required plumbing, I want to get the Evolution Excel.

@kaseki What did you mean by ”be sure that the plumbing will still go drain?”

From the photo, does it look like it would work with the larger disposal? I’d hate to wait 10 weeks for delivery and then find out the disposal can’t be connected correctly in that space.

I meant that I'm becoming illiterate in my old age. Delete the "go" and consider that the distance from DW port to sink flange is greater than for some earlier (than 2010) Insinkerator models.

What do you think it would take to swap these based on the dimension shown?

Existing Badger 5 disposal

Evolution Excel

Does anyone here have first hand knowledge of Insinkerator Evolution disposals?

I have first hand knowledge of Insinkerator as well as most other brands. I also have first hand knowledge and experience clearing clogged drains caused by all brands,non any worse than the others.

So, i would rather just start throwing what little food scraps I have down the garbage disposal without concern for clogs.

There is concern for clogs ANYTIME garbage is thrown down a disposal. Not as much concern as if it were put in drain without grinding,but plenty of concern.

It appears that the Insinkerator Evolution is rated to handle many types if food scraps that are not recommended for most other garbage disposals.

And it will but the fact bicycle tires can be ground up with enough horsepower only means homeowner can put worse things down the drain.

I don’t want to deal hassles with composting.

Composting is alot easier than dealing with slow drains. I suggest you look into vermicomposting with worms as an option before abandoning the idea. . There's a Vermicomposting forum here on houzz,go over there and ask questions.

With that said,you must not understand or the people running your town are idiots to require a 90 gallon cart for 5 gallons of waste. Don't take neighbor's word,go online or call to be certain EXACTLY what is changing and what is required. Do they plan having special trucks make extra trips to pick up these tiny bits? If kitchen scraps can't be included with normal trash going to landfill,what does the town plan doing with it? Something about this isn't right and you need the facts before spending money replacing your disposal and paying for another garbage pick up every week. Do you mind giving us the name of this town so we can go on line or call to witness it for ourselves. I'm concerned if they get away doing this where you live,the knotheads at my town might think about doing it next.

It’s statewide starting this year. I see some communities actually have 4 carts.

https://calrecycle.ca.gov/organics/slcp/collection/

This town uses 90 gallon sized carts because they say that’s what the trucks are calibrated to pick up and you can use the same green cart for yard clippings.

So, everyone gets them and pays for them even if they live in a condo or townhouse.

I live in a house, but it’s in a HOA community where a shared service takes care of everyone’s front yard and hauls away the debris. My rear yard is all flagstone and plants that don’t drop leaves or require pruning. So, I don’t need a green waste container for that either. So, this green cart’s sole purpose would be to store 1 week’s worth of food scraps. I don’t think even a family of 6 would need anything close to that size for food waste. Some people in this community put lawns, hedges and decidous trees in their back yards and use the green cart for that.

@jaxo wrote: "What do you think it would take to swap these based on the dimension shown?"

From the drawings, the weir has to move down by 11/16 inch and away by 3/4 inch. The latter can be dealt with by rotation of the unit. I can't tell if the existing configuration meets the Badger drawing dimensions. And the other sink drain is complicating the situation. I think a plumber informed about California's codes may need to put his oar in. "Cheating" may work, but you might have to operate the disposal when a lot of water is being drained to get good flow.

Which leads to another point. The Evolution is very quiet. Part of this is due to using a small opening at the bottom of the folded rubber collar such that when water is going down, the acoustic path is essentially blocked. This small opening also inhibits water flow if the drain is sluggish due to insufficient drop distance. You can help it with pushing the rubber folds apart, or by running the unit.

@kaseki OK, if the Excel may have issues getting connected so it can drain properly in that space, i guess I’ll need to go with the Evolution Compact and just be more careful with the quantities that go down at once.

In the descriptions, the main differe besides the extra 1/4 HP is that it has a 3 stage MultiGrind instead of 2 stage and is rated to handle beef bones.

Maybe it could be an easy swap with the Badger with no plumbing modifications.

The dimensions seem similar unless I’m missing something.

Sorry; I'm not really in a position to estimate how well you can adapt different disposals with slightly differing dimensions.

Looks like it should work,

I just found this video.

The key word in this video is "compact."

The Evolution series has additional sound deadening that you may - or may not - want. A 1/2 HP is going to take care of virtually everything unless you really try to grind a lot of potato peels at one time. If you want to bump up the HP a little more that 1/2 hp - that's fine... but you don't need to. You don't need a twin cylinder Briggs and Stratton engine to get rid of a little bit of food waste.

jaxo I apologize for doubting your word regarding law requiring 90 gallon cart dedicated to kitchen waste and thank you for the link and video. I now see your problem and wish you success with it. If I were in that state I'd probably end up on Homeland security's ten most wanted over putting orange peel and bones in wrong trash cart.

I replaced a Kenmore-branded Badger with the Evolution Compact. The only part I replaced was the discharge tube (part M in diagram) the that attaches to the disposer itself. The Kenmore and Compact use the same parts C-F so all I had to do to was twist off the old disposer and twist on the new one to attach it to the sink. The Compact's 3/4 HP is plenty.

I’m not understanding the separate containers for food and yard waste. Both places I’ve lived that had composting (Alameda, CA; Eugene, OR) have combined them. I personally prefer to compost my own food waste (we don’t really generate much yard waste), as it makes great compost, but in our current rental, it doesn’t make sense.

They are not separate containers.

The issue is that some people have zero yard waste and never had or needed a yard waste container. So, all these these people are now going to get a giant yard waste container just to throw a few food scraps into.