Garbage disposals are really not great for our wastewater systems. So much better for the environment if you can scrape into compost instead. Why not try going without? If you're doing a remodel, wire for one, because you'll want that for resale anyway.

I have one but rarely use it. I'm same as you -- never scrape plates or food down there, unless it's citrus rinds to freshen it up down there. Could absolutely live without it.

I have one but do not use it. I think of garbage disposals like intercoms and trash compactors - items sold as conveniences back in the 80s and 90s that no one really uses and so are gradually becoming obsolete. And yeah, they're totally improper if you're on septic (a suprising amount of people don't know that) and not great for wastewater systems in general.

You can use a garbage disposal with a septic, but that doesn't mean you should. Why risk a back-up. And it's not cheap to have the tank pumped (I should know -- I just had it done last year). From the EPA: Frequent Questions on Septic Systems | US EPA

In some places (including where I live) it is illegal to have a garbage disposal with a septic system. But it is not advisable no matter where you are. What's the point of having it if you can only use it sparingly without risking a backup or prematurely aging your system? Where I live, a new septic system once you blow your existing one is $25k.

In our area the storm and sanitary sewer systems are not fully separate, so while disposals are allowed, they aren't recommended--in rainy weather, the sewer overflow goes right into a nearby lake and bay and can affect the water quality. So we've never had one--but we also have municipal compost in our city, so plates all get scraped off into the food waste bin before going into the dishwasher anyway. I could see it being more of an issue if you didn't have compost so weren't scraping plates off (though most places we've visited like that just scrape into the trash instead, which is always an option). It is easy to wire for one and then just not install it, though.

I really wouldn't want to do without a disposal. At home I use it all the time. Up at camp we are on septic and only use it for scraps that accidentally fall into the sink or very wet food like uneaten cereal.

My post about the septic was in response to Stax's post, which he (? she) has since deleted.

Our 2nd home has a garbage disposal, but nothing is put down there on purpose. My current home doesn’t have a disposal, and I don’t plan on putting one in our new build (because I don’t use the one in our 2nd home).

In ON, Canada and don’t know anyone who has one. I looked it up and saw that depending on the city they are either partially banned, banned or not really encouraged to be used. We just scrape off the food into the trash or green/compost bin.

I had a garbage disposal for years in several different houses. My current home didn't have one when I bought it and found I don't really need it, so when I remodeled the kitchen I continued without.

We had one when we bought our house, and it failed spectacularly during a christmas dinner many years ago, so we ditched it. I 100% splurged on one for the reno for the SOLE reason of not having to haul a dripping drain basket of noodles or cereal parts or wet spinach to the trash. I don't plan on using it for anything beyond that kind of waste, and for peace of mind when that kind of stuff gets swept into the drain (even though my model apparently will grind up bones, which is CRAZY to imagine!) I have a higher end model only because a family member is a plumber and insisted and sources my plumbing fixtures at cost for me. It is almost certainly overkill! (It just arrived this week and is massive.) We keep a gallon compost bucket for all of our non-animal fats food waste and will continue to do so. But I don't have to touch the sink gunk again!!

" And yeah, they're totally improper if you're on septic (a suprising amount of people don't know that) and not great for wastewater systems in general."

Having used one with septic systems for over 60 years now I count myself amongst the people who most definitely don't know that. No, I don't put macro amounts of solid material into it, anything big enough to pick up or shake off goes into the trash, but it definitely gets all the little bits and pieces. I've lived without a disposal at various times and regret every single second spent trying to dislodge food from the sink strainer.

No failures or even issues with the septic tanks and drain fields through all that time. The tank does get appropriate maintenance and the report is always that it has less solids than expected-- our guy suggested last time that we go from a 3 year pumping schedule to 5 years.

We compost all food scraps except for bones, oils, etc. We have the OXO drain strainer and it makes getting sink gunk into the compost bin very easy. So we don’t use our disposal at all.

Little bits and pieces is entirely different than scraping food off plates. I do the bits and pieces bit from the small bit of debris in the sink and have no problem, that's not the same as people who put pretty much everything down the disposal, like one of my in-laws does -- they use it like a trash can.

We have septic and have a garbage disposal. We don't cram stuff down it. We use it for any bits and pieces that may end up in the sink. No issues with our septic.

I have a disposal but keep a sieve over our drain, and compost everything. The disposal gives me peace of mind though, because once in a while something gets through and it is nice to know I won't get clogged up over it! But I rarely use it. I have a "batch" disposer which doesn't have that icky gasket thing. Or a switch on the wall/counter...

In my sink replacement busiiness, we get requests to eliminate disposals several times a year, so living without isn't too unusual.

We use a garbage disposal as needed. Not frequently, but as needed for bits and pieces of food that go down the drain. It’s an extra tool.

I should add that we have two sink bowls and only the one with the disposal ever drained slowly; I removed the disposal and the sink now drains much better.

We don't use it often, as we put scraps in the trash, but when we do need it, it is there. In the new house I put one in the kitchen main sink, prep sink and laundry sink! I hate cleaning slimy bits from a sink strainer!

I compost, so I don't use my disposal a ton... but my mom didn't have one for a very long time, and the tiny scraps of food that go down clogged her pipes until she started using a screen... but the screen got clogged a LOT and it's so much grosser to clean than the black disposal flaps. 

Couldn't live without a disposal in the sink next to dishwasher. Currently gutting my kitchen and do not plan to put a disposal in the prep sink, but I'm leaving room to add one just in case.

@Angela Carlson - that's exactly what I'm afraid of - clogged pipes

Everyone will need to be on their best behavior if I eliminate the disposal. And you're right - you either clean the screen or clean the black rubber thingy. I think my new sink comes with a strainer and a basket - two things to clean. :-)

I've had garbage disposals before and would never get one again. To me it is a waste of money and I don't want to have to deal with the occasional stink or fixing a jam. Other considerations include the loss of undersink storage, water wastefulness, noise or cleaning the rubber slpash guard--I've never warmed up to the dark-black hole. @Beatrix, I'm like you, I only have tiny bits of food collecting in my strainer, and frankly, I can go several days without needing to pick those bits off the strainer because they are so small and not a bother. Sometimes, I turn the strainer upside down and flush those tiny bits down the drain--I've never had a kitchen sink clog. I understand the reasons why some people would want a garbage disposal, like if they have little ones who do not finish their cereal, but that's not my normal everyday circumstance. If something like that were to happen, I could strain it with my fingers or a colander. Or they might want it to reduce their garbage can waste.

I have one in each house and seldom use them. I absolutely would never put noodles through a garbage disposal - they are notorious for clogging pipes and sewers. I scrape off most food from dishes into the garbage, and then I wipe the last bits into the sink so that the DW will not have to deal with food. If I leave tiny bits of food on plates, it ends up on the filters in the DWs, and then I have to clean those, which is worse than wiping food off of dishes.

I neither love nor hate disposals.

I checked couldn't live without but like other people don't use it INSTEAD of a garbage can for large amounts of stuff. I use it for the little stuff that is in the sink after prepping and washing. Otherwise it would either go down the drain and potentially clog at some point OR I would have to deal with getting it off the strainer.

The KitchenAid Batch Feed garbage disposer has no flange and no wall switch. The magnetic stopper is the switch. This powerful model easily grinds up lemon slices which helps keep the drains fresh. Other than sliced lemons, only sink gunk and counter crumbs go into the disposer. I love it!

KA Batch Garbage Disposer