Nutrient Pollution

• When food goes through the garbage disposal system, environmental advocates like Grinning Planet, an environmental humor website, argue that this food ends up putting more strain on the sewer system, since this system must treat all of the food passing through. These sewage systems are also releasing nutrient pollution into coastal areas, which are creating coastal dead zones. However, the food waste closely resembles the waste that the sewer systems were originally designed to handle.
  
  

Grease Caking

• Some sewer lines have developed grease that heavily cakes on the walls of the sewer system, causing the system to not operate efficiently enough. These areas most often develop nearby restaurants that dispose of large amounts of food. Some problem areas need continual maintenance to clean up the grease and keep the sewer functioning properly. Grease can be the worst when combined with household cleaners and detergents because these substances can combine, forming very hard substances on the walls of the sewer systems.
  
  

Creams, Sauces and Gravies

• The worst substances to send down the drain are creams, sauces, and gravies, which can very easily build up in the sewer system. Sauces, creams, and gravies have consistencies that are the most likely to clog up the drain and even ruin the garbage disposal. Homeowners with garbage disposals should never put these kinds of food down the drain even if using the garbage disposal is much more convenient than scraping these materials off the plate and into the garbage.
  
  

Clogs

• Those with septic systems should avoid using garbage disposal systems because they can lead to a buildup of sludge and scum levels in the septic system. This sludge can also clog up soil pores, which can lead to the sewage water backing up in the soil, creating a sewage flood. Also, while the disposal systems grind up the food, they can still eventually clog the sewer systems because the grounded up materials eventually compact in the drain.
  
  

Responsible Disposal Usage

• Those who dispose of non-fatty foods might not put a lot of burden on the sewer system, but don't put fatty foods down the disposal. You can scrape the majority of your food into the garbage and can then wash the remaining remnants down the drain, using the grinder to break these remnants into bits. You can also reduce the amount of food that ends up in the sewer system by putting strainers over the sinks and then dumping the strainers into the garbage. If too many people abuse their garbage disposals, you could end up with a garbage disposal ban, such as the one enacted in Raleigh, North Carolina.