The average family disposes of around 16 kilograms of food waste every week - making a food waste disposer an environmentally responsible and convenient investment for your home.
Designed to be installed inside a kitchen sink, food waste disposers grind organic waste materials into tiny particles, which can then be safely washed away. With the touch of a button, messy food scraps are dealt with instantly and hygienically, reducing the risk of bad odours or bacterial contaminations in your kitchen.
There are a number of different options to consider when purchasing a food waste disposer.
Most food waste disposers don't use blades - instead, they use heavy-duty grinders. Different models feature different types of grinders, as we will explain.
Those with a batch feed function require a cover or stopper to be placed over the sink opening before they can be turned on. This additional step often provides additional peace of mind that the unit will not be turned on accidently.
Continuous feed varieties do not require a cover and can be used at any time. For this reason, some people prefer continuous feed waste disposers over the batch feed units.
Not every household has the same amount of food waste, so therefore they don't all need the same size disposer.
If there are only a couple of people in your household, you should consider a smaller model. Similarly, if a lot of people are going to be using the food waste disposer, it would be wise to invest in a larger, heavier-duty model. No matter what size you get, all food waste disposers are designed to be fitted discreetly beneath your kitchen sink.
Larger disposers come with better parts and labour guarantees - which will give you additional peace of mind.
While food waste disposers rely on a grinding mechanism, this does not mean that they will be excessively noisy to operate.
Some food waste disposers boast innovative technology that significantly reduces noise. For example, the Evolution range from leading manufacturer InSinkErator is between 40 and 60 per cent quieter than standard models thanks to two-and three-stage grinding technology.
For the least amount of noise, look for a product that has integrated sound baffles, top of the line insulation and large sound barriers.
The type of unit you choose will determine which switch you use. Air switches are used to operate continuous feed models and can be placed in or around the sink, within easy reach of the user. These switches provide vibrations via a pipe in your countertop in order to turn the machine on, rather than using electricity.
Electric switches are used to operate batch feed food disposal units, and are often placed on a wall away from the sink where the unit is fitted, in order to prevent electric shocks.
Some food waste disposers also feature an auto reverse function to prevent food waste from becoming jammed inside the unit. The auto reverse function enables the motor to rotate in the opposite direction, which is particularly useful when grinding fibrous or starchy food scraps such as artichoke leaves or potato peelings.
If you have any further queries about which food disposal unit is best suited to your needs, please feel free to contact our friendly customer service team on: 1300 000 500.