Garbage disposal and septic

[czechsonofagun]

I read somewhere you should not use garbage disposal if you have a septic tank. And Lowe's or HD sells special GD for septics. Now I can't understand what could go wrong if I used normal GD with the septic. It is just mulched food, nothing else and I am sure the bacteria in the septic would not have problems processing it. Or would it?

Anybody knows why?

 

[ray66v]

The disposal has the ability to put more solids into the system, then it can handle.

I suspect that the disposal made for septic systems, grinds the garbage finer. And if you pump out your system more often than normal, you can use either. Some need to pump annually.

I get 5 years between pumpings. I choose to live without the disposal; its not that tough too do.

 

[mjarrels]

I have two houses on septic systems and no garbage disposals. The other house (rental) does have a dishwasher and I will not replace it when it fails! I remember the commerials for dishwashers where they place a complete cake into it and it disappears... its got to go somewhere! Fewer solids the better.

mark

 

[Doc_Bob]

Sadly, folks use their disposals for food waste such as meat. Meat, fat is bad for a septic.

My wife and I never put anything done the disposal, we scrape it all into the trash.

My brother who works for a city sewage treatment plant, feels converting solid waste into liquid waste is silly. I agree.
Bob

 

[ByronBob]

To put in a disposal when I built would have required a larger tank and more leach lines. I imagine it's the extra solids and the need to organically get rid of it.

 

[WayneB]

I have an In-Sink Erator at our home and it has been in use for about five years now. There is a BIO charge that has to be used with the system and each time you turn on the disposal a shot of the enzyme is squirted into the unit. This aids is breaking down the solid matter.

We have our tank pumped every few years and to date have had no problems with the system.

 

[SnowRidge]

Septic systems are designed to handle food that has been, er, digested first. If you didn't eat it or drink it, it's not supposed to go into the septic.

Not to be concerned, there is an exception for TP.

 

[schmism]

as said they will put more solids into the system.

if you have your tank pumped regularly (say 3 years) you shouldnt have any issues.

 

[HappyCPE]

My county board of health does not allow any house on a septic system to have a GD. Like everyone else said, too much solids in the system are no good. I actually don't know how they enforce the rule, though.

 

[czechsonofagun]

OK, clear enough, thank you all for educating me