Food Waste Disposers Included in National Green Building Standard Mar 20, 2009

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The installation of food waste disposers will now contribute one point towards a building’s achievement of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) National Green Building Standard certification. InSinkErator said the change recognizes the positive role disposers play as part of an environmentally responsible home waste management system.

The National Green Building Standard is an American National Standards Institute (ANSI)-approved residential green building rating system. There are a minimum number of points required for each of the seven guiding principles, at various levels, to ensure that all aspects of green building are addressed when constructing an environmentally friendly building. The standard defines what green practices can be incorporated into residential development and construction and how homeowners can operate and maintain green homes.

Because food waste is 70% water, InSinkErator says it is best treated by grinding it in a disposer and sending it down a drain to be processed in municipal wastewater treatment plants. Many large municipal treatment plants capture the methane that’s a byproduct of treatment and convert it into renewable energy. Wastewater treatment plants can also recycle the biosolids, turning it into compost-like fertilizer, according to InSinkErator, which adds that using a disposer helps reduce biodegradable waste put into the trash, in turn reducing the waste sent to landfills.

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