Re: Show us your kitchen compost container

GWN 1/17/2012, 9:47 pm

I have often wondered if I could take the stuff that comes out of the "garborator" (canadian term) American term is garbage disposal unit.
The ones that you put your veggies in that "gobble them up".
I wish I could get one of those with a direct "outlet" into my compost bucket.

My son the plumber said it was against code...... Anyone else out there ever done this?

Chopper 1/17/2012, 10:34 pm

GWN wrote:I have often wondered if I could take the stuff that comes out of the "garborator" (canadian term) American term is garbage disposal unit.
The ones that you put your veggies in that "gobble them up".
I wish I could get one of those with a direct "outlet" into my compost bucket.

My son the plumber said it was against code...... Anyone else out there ever done this?

I am absolutely certain that a) it can be done outdoors over a can that one could then transfer to a pile and b) someone out there has done it. But in thinking about it more, is it worth it? Easy enough to just take the veggies and toss 'em on the pile and if the are really too bulky, a garbage disposal would not be enough. They are a nice 'wet chipper' though....

boffer 1/17/2012, 10:37 pm

I haven't done it, but I'm visualizing a mess under your sink!

How about if your son the plumber scrounges up a used disposal and sets it up in the garage or basement as a system dedicated to creating compost 'mash'? You could also chew up a lot of greenery that comes out of the garden.

I'm visualizing a cart on wheels (I put everything I can on wheels) about 2x2 feet max. A lower shelf to hold the strainer and bucket, and a top shelf like a counter top with the disposal built in. Or, go first class, and let son scrounge a small sink for the top. Water could be supplied from a garden hose, or a storage jug. Hey, now we're talkin' about the fun part of gardening! Show us your kitchen compost container - Page 3 3170584802

Show us your kitchen compost container - Page 3 3170584802

janezee 1/17/2012, 10:43 pm

Uuuuuuuuuuugh. I already have too many fruitflies. Even thinking of this makes my skin crawl.

Much better to use a blender. Show us your kitchen compost container - Page 3 43549

Show us your kitchen compost container - Page 3 43549

GWN 1/18/2012, 12:53 am

ya but fruit flies seem to just go somewhere else for the winter..... where do they go?
Yes I do need some sort of chipper shredder, but it is so much fun to put stuff through the garb orator but i no longer have one, since
it APPAREntly is rather hard on the septic field study

**Furbalsmom** 1/18/2012, 12:57 am

GWN wrote:I have often wondered if I could take the stuff that comes out of the "garborator" (canadian term) American term is garbage disposal unit.
The ones that you put your veggies in that "gobble them up".
I wish I could get one of those with a direct "outlet" into my compost bucket.

My son the plumber said it was against code...... Anyone else out there ever done this?

GWN, novel idea, but one big thing occurs to me.

Most people also use the "garborator" for meat, fat and dairy (I do anyway) and those items do not belong in a compost bin.

GWN 1/18/2012, 1:09 am

'Most people also use the "garborator" for meat, fat and dairy' Well I guess that would not be a good idea if that is what you did. Good point!

**walshevak** 1/18/2012, 8:33 am

GWN wrote:ya but fruit flies seem to just go somewhere else for the winter..... where do they go?
Yes I do need some sort of chipper shredder, but it is so much fun to put stuff through the garb orator but i no longer have one, since
it APPAREntly is rather hard on the septic field

Which is why I compost all I can and only use the disposal for meat, some bones and dairy. I put grease into empty cans and let it get cold and solid before putting into the trash for the dump.

My blender gets a workout on the veggie stuff, and then poured into the garbage can composter with the leaves from fall.

Kay

plantoid 1/18/2012, 2:21 pm

A dedicated waste disposal unit set in an old sink unit & cabinet carcass /frame protected from the weather & outside the hiome seems the best way to go if your set on reducing veg waste to a readily rotting pulp for composting .

A simple outlet piped to a big bucket arrangement coming out the side of the cabinet should possibly negate any code requirements ,unless you are not allowed to make such simple things without yards of paper work and Ph D's in engineering etc.

But it would obviously need to be electricaly safe if you're using a hose pipe where there is electricity & to have some sort of circuit breaker on the plug in cable as it's not inside the buildings " Faradays cage " protection system .

martha 1/18/2012, 3:21 pm

Furbalsmom wrote:Most people also use the "garborator" for meat, fat and dairy (I do anyway) and those items do not belong in a compost bin.

But that's where Boffer's idea would come in handy! I love the idea of an old random sink sitting out somewhere having the garbage disposal chop things up. I wonder if it would hold up to the volume of restaurant waste? That would solve my problem of having too much stuff to chop up!

plantoid 1/18/2012, 3:36 pm

martha wrote:
Furbalsmom wrote:Most people also use the "garborator" for meat, fat and dairy (I do anyway) and those items do not belong in a compost bin.

But that's where Boffer's idea would come in handy! I love the idea of an old random sink sitting out somewhere having the garbage disposal chop things up. I wonder if it would hold up to the volume of restaurant waste? That would solve my problem of having too much stuff to chop up!

Martha ,
Perhaps you could use a double sink unit and two disposal units then or two sink units with drain ing boards on back to back , run the excess strained off water to wet the compost heap by using a big capacity pond pump without a filter screen in it. They'd also make a quick veg prep area outside of the restaurant to remove most of the unwanted bits before taking the goods into the restaurant..

**camprn** 1/18/2012, 7:30 pm

Naw, that is way too much work, just chuck it in the bucket and let the heat and worms take care of it? What a Face

martha 1/18/2012, 7:44 pm

Plantoid, I love your ideas! Did I hear you say you were heading to this side of the Atlantic to come set these things up for me?

GWN 1/19/2012, 10:58 am

plantoid
What an excellent idea.
My son the plumber could set it up........ Away away from the house. Perhaps in the garden shed. and have it drain into a compost like bin.

I feel I have years of catching up on compost since we are living on a new property. I did get a tumbling composter but the stuff just seems to turn to liquid without the much needed lawn clippings.

The hard part will be to get the son the plumber out here during ski season, somehow the parents go to the bottom of the list of "things to do"
Sad

plantoid 1/19/2012, 4:40 pm

GWN wrote:plantoid
What an excellent idea.
My son the plumber could set it up........ Away away from the house. Perhaps in the garden shed. and have it drain into a compost like bin.

I feel I have years of catching up on compost since we are living on a new property. I did get a tumbling composter but the stuff just seems to turn to liquid without the much needed lawn clippings.

The hard part will be to get the son the plumber out here during ski season, somehow the parents go to the bottom of the list of "things to do"

Tell him you think you , " Have discovered GOLD in the garden .. keep under your hat and come over and see "
Prior to this conversation ,collect all the bits together and bake a blue berry pie etc. Laughing

GWN 1/19/2012, 9:31 pm

Tell him you think you , " Have discovered GOLD in the garden .. keep under your hat and come over and see "
Prior to this conversation ,collect all the bits together and bake a blue berry pie etc.

You know it if funny you say that.... when they were putting in our geothermal system, they DID find some ...... blackish soil, old creek bed.....

**llama momma** 2/16/2012, 5:22 pm

Today I found a little ceramic kitchen compost bucket, it holds 3 qts. Found it at World Market @ $14.99. It's the first time I've seen one in a store instead of mail order. Made my day when right next to it was a package of replacement charcoal filters for the lid too. It's a good day. Smile

Show us your kitchen compost container - Page 3 Kitche11

**camprn** 2/16/2012, 6:36 pm

Fabulous find LM! cheers

**RoOsTeR** 2/17/2012, 8:15 am

Awesome sauce LM Show us your kitchen compost container - Page 3 3170584802

TN_GARDENER 2/17/2012, 10:51 am

Mine looks a lot like this.

Sits just outside my kitchen on the deck and doesn't take much time at all for us to fill. The family is pretty much on board, too. My 8 year old was peeling potatoes and I heard her say "hang on, let me get a bag to catch the peels." I almost teared up. Very Happy

Show us your kitchen compost container - Page 3 04peecantip45

quiltbea 2/17/2012, 10:56 am

I like that your dau is thinking compost first. Give her a hug from Grandma quiltbea.

I place a mixing bowl on my counter while preparting food, for peels and scraps, so I don't dirty a bag that needs to hit the landfill. I toss from the bowl to the compost bucket to the compost bin.

Lindacol 2/17/2012, 12:43 pm

TN_GARDENER wrote:Mine looks a lot like this.

Sits just outside my kitchen on the deck and doesn't take much time at all for us to fill. The family is pretty much on board, too. My 8 year old was peeling potatoes and I heard her say "hang on, let me get a bag to catch the peels." I almost teared up.

That's what I use. Mine sits on the counter beside the coffee pot. It has taken some training to keep my husband, the coffee drinker, from throwing away the emptry containers and the used grounds. If he thinks it's full (when it's not - just needs a couple of taps on the counter to compact what's in it) he still throws away grounds.

I miss the metal coffee cans. I use them for lots of things. Especially like them for feed scoops and if the dog gets hold of them they are still usable, where as the plastic ones are ruined.

**Kelejan** 2/17/2012, 12:45 pm

Those Folgers coffee containers are so useful, and I like the indentation that allows one to comfortably grip the can with one hand.

I got a bunch of ten when I collected some recycled cans for our local Bird Rehab centre. Narurally I donated the money to them, also any 2 litre pop bottles I use.

Noie 2/17/2012, 1:25 pm

I'm almost embarrassed to admit what mine is. I don't drink coffee...so I don't have one of those handy Folger's ones. But I do like my margaritas, so...

Show us your kitchen compost container - Page 3 7150910

Show us your kitchen compost container - Page 3 7150910

**Furbalsmom** 2/17/2012, 1:36 pm

Love it Noie cheers

Sponsored content


	Hello Guest! Welcome to the official Square Foot Gardening Forum. There's lots to learn here by reading as a guest. However, if you become a member (it's free, ad free and spam-free) you'll have access to our large vermiculite databases, our seed exchange spreadsheets, Mel's Mix calculator, and many more members' pictures in the Gallery. Enjoy.