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Your Energy Watchdog Disclosing privileged Energy & Environmental saving details since 1982. |
KITCHEN APPLIANCES - Trash Compactor and Garbage Disposal in sinkAlso it has been noted that many men love gadgets and they are great at justifying any modern convenience. For example, men can talk the paint down off a bridge if that will get them a new big flat screen LCD TV.
Nevertheless, all us humans are also great at reasoning things through
when we want to.Many owners of Trash Compactors love them and if any of them have any complaints they are usually in the
following areas:Problem: Disapprove of the smell from a Trash Compactor due to all the food scraps building up.
Solution 1: Install a Garbage Disposal in the sink.
Solution 2: Buy a Trash Compactor with air freshener / exhaust fan.Problem: After compression of all the garbage, the Trash Compactor's bag is very heavy to carry out.
Solution: If nobody else can help by carrying the bag out, then use Trash Compactor to compact less so loads are lighter.
Sounds good, but STOP for a minute
because there is more.
So let us continue to evaluate...A Trash Compactor will use around 2,300 watts of electricity.
A Garbage Disposal will use around 700 watts of electricity each and every time you turn it on.Additional reasons for a Trash Compactor and / or Garbage Disposal:
- We have a big family, many kids, and a lot of garbage.
- Township or County charges us for garbage pickup based on volume.
- I don't want to use a standard garbage pail and put all those plastic bags into landfills."So Grandma, what are the answers, what are the realities, what are our responsibilities?"
"Ooh my one question at a time.
"First the smells, well an air freshener that mask smells or an energy using exhaust fan are not the solution. Nor is an energy consuming Garbage Disposal in the sink. The answer is what I did and everybody before me did one way or another - composting the food scrapes. Now don't jump to any conclusions without hearing me out. Here is the word COMPOSTING that will Link you to more information on the subject.
"With big families and garbage bags being heavy, well the bags won't get heavy if everyone has a turn taking the garbage out each day. Assigning chores develops responsibilities and fosters problem solving. For example, no matter whose turn it is to take the garbage out today, if you are placing garbage in the pail and you are over-filling it... Well, one of two things solves the problem. Notify the person who is scheduled to take the garbage out for that day and if they are not home, then you take the over-filled garbage out. Why, because we are all on the same team and things will or can be balanced out later. Also the more kids in the family, the more help available.
Watchdog in Action:
"As far as any Township or County having laws charging for garbage pickup based on volume... Well time to call your local assemblywomen or assemblyman to get that law changed. If that is the way they charge for garbage pickup then that is preposterous!
"Think about this, charged by volume does not fosters Recycling or Composting. That law will only encourage using more energy with Trash Compactors. Look at what people are doing in other parts of our great country and Europe. In Buffalo New York they are charged for garbage pickup by weight. They all have the same big garbage cans on wheels with hinged lid covers, so they know how much an empty garbage container weights. They weight the full container, subtract the difference, read the RFID tag on the container to know who's account to charge, and they are done. This can be done for garbage and recycling." "Grandma, what are RFID tags?"
"You think I know? I'm 82 years old, but it just so happens that I do know. I have to be up on these electronic gizmos so you grand kids think I'm cool. RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION tags or RFID. Yep, that's what they are. They will replace the BAR CODES that you see on each item in the stores.
Watchdog in Action: [Want to learn more how RFID tags will help with food shopping? CLICK HERE]"Now where was I, oh yes, so paying by weight is fair and helps with the three "R"s - Reduce, Recycle, Reuse. Thus, your family will be doing what I did when I was young. Compost the food scraps and recycle or reuse anything else that you can.
"Now for those plastic bags. When I was young, no such thing. Didn't need them then and we don't need them now if you are composting. Perhaps a thick crepe paper bag would suffice... Not to carry the garbage out, you have a handle on the pail for that, but to help keep the pail cleaner longer. Now don't pull the bag out, dump it out into the large garbage can like I use to do. This way if the bio-degradable crepe paper bag was weaken by some liquids, you don't have it breaking all over. Isn't it time we all realize we don't need plastic bags when everyone before you didn't need them either? Don't you see, if you buy plastic bags you are being Sold a Bill of Goods!"
"Grandma, won't the garbage cans smell and get YUCKY?"
"Not very fast and not very much if you compost the food scraps and better still if you use bio-degradable crepe paper bags. Then when they do need a cleaning... Well who's turn is it to clean the pails... A little spray or two with some all natural cleaner, wipe down with a rag, toss in the wash, done. I will tell you what, since you didn't do it above to learn more about composting food scraps, CLICK now on this word: COMPOSTING. It won't bite!
"So I strongly recommend the old way, no trash compactor and no garbage disposal, thus no electrical energy is used and more of the three (3) "R"s can happen.
Now give great grandma a hug and a kiss... I love you, and take the garbage out please."Watchdog in Action:
IMPORTANT NOTE AMERICA: It has been reported that only 5% of children in America today spend enough time with their grandparents to have conversations like the one above, conversations where they can learn from and get to really know their grandparents. This has to change, for when all families stop to function, so will the human race.
