Any one in Canada have a garbage disposal in their home?

[msjprincess]

I live in the US and I've never had one. I only know 1 person that has one. Maybe it's because I live in an area with older homes.

 

[SirDuff]

In Canada and we have one. Food still goes in the green bin though.

 

[NFLDERS]

Canadian here. We compost as do our families, and friends. I've never seen a home garbage disposal (except in movies).

 

[minnie mum]

We had a garbage disposal in one of our Canadian homes. Never felt the need to use it. Neither of the houses we lived in in the US had disposals. Our current home doesn't have one. We compost.

 

[Minnesota!]

US - but every house we have bought that had one, we removed it. Hate them!

 

[bcla]

I've stayed in a condo in BC years ago, and it had one.

The biggest issue is when they jam and physically shut off. They have to be reset using a tool that reverses the disposal. I think the shut off is supposed to prevent stupid stuff from happening such as someone sticking a hand in there. It could still cause a lot of damage, but it will typically stop once it hits bone. There are two types of tools. One is a key that goes into a hex fitting on the bottom.

The other goes into the opening and is called various names like "T-handle tool". It slides in sideways and then needs to have the two prongs fit into the disposer's teeth. Some disposals don't have the fitting and this is the only kind of tool that will work.

 

[Zimbing]

Live in Vancouver and the apartment I live in has one. Condo was built about 2007. Doesn't get used that much though.

 

[kamik86]

I have never lived in a house that didn't have one... However I hate it. I wish I didn't have one... then I could have a normal catch thing in my sink so that spoons wouldn't go down the drain and then get chewed up in the disposal.

 

[Meriweather]

I've had one as long as I can remember.
US.......had septic for over 30 years and had one in that home too.
I like it, but then after all these years, I am used to it.
I don't know anyone that doesn't have one.

 

[mom2rtk]

I live in Nova Scotia and I've got one.

We don't use it that much, just for food that falls in the sink during prep and cleanup. Everything else gets composted through our recycling program... directly into green bin for vegetable stuff, into big bag in freezer (till pickup day) for stinky stuff.

I am on well and septic system.

Wait..... I would need room in my freezer for garbage?

Definitely a deal breaker. It's like putting together a puzzle just to fit everything in after our weekly grocery shopping trip.

 

[SC Minnie]

We have one. This house is 18 yo and is on a septic system. We don't use it that much. Most stuff gets thrown away.

My mom's house is 26 yo on a septic system and has one.

 

[Jaya]

I live in the US and I'd give up my firstborn before I'd give up my garbage disposal.

 

[bcwife76]

I live in BC in a newer build (house was built in 2009) and we have one. My mom's old house (built in the late 70's) had one, her old condo (built in the late 70's as well) also had one as did my childhood home (built in the 50's).

 

[Rhombus]

I've stayed in a condo in BC years ago, and it had one.

The biggest issue is when they jam and physically shut off. They have to be reset using a tool that reverses the disposal. I think the shut off is supposed to prevent stupid stuff from happening such as someone sticking a hand in there. It could still cause a lot of damage, but it will typically stop once it hits bone. There are two types of tools. One is a key that goes into a hex fitting on the bottom.

The other goes into the opening and is called various names like "T-handle tool". It slides in sideways and then needs to have the two prongs fit into the disposer's teeth. Some disposals don't have the fitting and this is the only kind of tool that will work.

I had to use that bent wrench to get ours working again back in the spring. None of the Allen wrenches I already had fit precisely. No big deal, only about $6.99 at Home Depot.

I remember our house have a disposal even back in the 1960s. The only place I've ever lived without one was in an apartment. I do know that they're not considered a standard in many areas.

 

[Northstar]

I live in Nova Scotia and I've got one.

We don't use it that much, just for food that falls in the sink during prep and cleanup. Everything else gets composted through our recycling program... directly into green bin for vegetable stuff, into big bag in freezer (till pickup day) for stinky stuff.

I am on well and septic system.

Wait..... I would need room in my freezer for garbage?

Definitely a deal breaker. It's like putting together a puzzle just to fit everything in after our weekly grocery shopping trip.

Well, we don't HAVE to put anything in the freezer... but if I put anything too enticingly stinky out in the trash or green bin, I've got to battle raccoons, and it's easier to keep them out of my freezer than out of my trash!

 

[ronandannette]

Well, we don't HAVE to put anything in the freezer... but if I put anything too enticingly stinky out in the trash or green bin, I've got to battle raccoons, and it's easier to keep them out of my freezer than out of my trash!

I admire your commitment to composting. I wouldn't deal with that mess in a million years.

 

[scrapquitler]

I notice that a lot of you are saying that you have a composting component to your trash pickup. I don't know of anywhere around here (CT) that compost is included in the recycling program provided by a town or a private trash hauler. If I had that option, I might actually use it, but it's not even an option (and no way am I composting in my yard, I have enough trouble with critters trying to get into the trash as it is without a compost bin for them to feast upon.)

 

[maddiel]

I admire your commitment to composting. I wouldn't deal with that mess in a million years.

You may have to sooner than that - it looks like Calgary is considering city-wide compost collection in the near future: http://www.calgary.ca/UEP/WRS/Pages...ices/Organics-recycling/Green-Cart-Pilot.aspx

Halifax has been doing compost collection for ~18 years. You get used to it and it seems funny to put food waste in with garbage when we travel now. Some people still don't do it - the city has just switched to much more strict waste diversion rules, partly to make it harder for the people whe still don't separate. I'm not completely a fan of the new rules (only one opaque garbage bag and up to 5 clear garbage bags allowed per household every two weeks, plus green bin pick up alternate weeks and ulimited recycling pick up) but we should be okay with one bag most of the time, unless we are doing heavy house cleaning or miss a garbage day. All the different streams end up taking up a bit of space though.

And on topic -we don't have a garage disposal but my Inlaws do. They really aren't that common around here. I wouldn't be shocked to see one in a house but I wouldn't expect one either.

M.

 

[CdnCarrie]

Yes always. Even had one as a kid and I'm almost 50.

 

[tvguy]

You may have to sooner than that - it looks like Calgary is considering city-wide compost collection in the near future: http://www.calgary.ca/UEP/WRS/Pages...ices/Organics-recycling/Green-Cart-Pilot.aspx

Halifax has been doing compost collection for ~18 years. You get used to it and it seems funny to put food waste in with garbage when we travel now. Some people still don't do it - the city has just switched to much more strict waste diversion rules, partly to make it harder for the people whe still don't separate. I'm not completely a fan of the new rules (only one opaque garbage bag and up to 5 clear garbage bags allowed per household every two weeks, plus green bin pick up alternate weeks and ulimited recycling pick up) but we should be okay with one bag most of the time, unless we are doing heavy house cleaning or miss a garbage day. All the different streams end up taking up a bit of space though.

And on topic -we don't have a garage disposal but my Inlaws do. They really aren't that common around here. I wouldn't be shocked to see one in a house but I wouldn't expect one either.

M.

Interesting. I e-mailed my cousin in Calgary this morning when I saw this, and he has 2 garbage disposals, 1 in the kitchen and 1 in the wet bar in the basement. He says the HOA rules in his development prohibit composting, so that isn't an option.