The average UK household wastes around £470 of food per year. This equates to a staggering £13bn of food across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales per annum.
But what do you do with this wasted food that has most likely gone out of date? Does your local recycling facility have a separate collection for food waste? Do you just put it in the main bin in your kitchen to produce a funky smell after a while?
Hopefully, your local recycling facility has a sperate collection for food waste, and that there is an alternative to putting this waste food in your main bin, allowing it to produce a not so attractive smell after a while.
In this Kitchen Warehouse blog, we have taken a look at waste disposal units and whether or not they are worth fitting in your kitchen.
Are Waste Disposal Units Popular?
Waste disposal units are commonplace in America but when have you ever seen one in the UK? Not many households have one.
There are various theories as to why this is the case; these range from attitudes towards rationing during the Second World War and a reluctance to waste food to a sewage system not equipped to deal with it.
In fact, many people think that they are illegal. Well, in some non-rural areas of Scotland and Northern Ireland they are banned for businesses, but you can have one fitted at home. As a result, they have never really become a permanent fixture of the British home. However, if you are thinking of getting one then what are the pros and cons?
Pros of A Waste Disposal Unit
Not Expensive
You can buy a waste disposal unit, and have it installed for a few hundred pounds. There are some that you can buy for much cheaper than that though.
As far as upgrading your kitchen or adding in new appliances or features, having a waste disposal unit installed is one of the most cost-effective things that you can fit in your home. Given that they also use very little energy you will be pleased to know that you will not find your electricity bill skyrocketing either. The simply are installed inside your kitchen units and kitchen doors.
No Kitchen Smells
Perhaps the biggest reason people use food waste disposers is that they get rid of the smell that normally comes from a waste bin that you find in many domestic kitchens.
The kitchen waste disposal unit grinds up food into small particles and flushes them into the sewage system. This means no more having to empty the food bin every day or wondering where that strange odour is coming from.
Potential Cons of a Waste Disposal Unit
Small Potential for Danger
Overall, waste disposal units are generally very safe. However, caution should be exercised especially when children are present in the household.
Teaching everyone how to use it properly and also fitting a magnetic cover or purchasing a unit with this pre-installed can limit any potential danger.
Are They Environmentally Friendly?
There are various arguments for and against food waste disposal units and whether or not they are environmentally friendly.
The government released a report – Food Waste in England 2016-17 – that recommended that every council should have a separate area of their home for waste collection. This would negate the need for a food waste disposal unit; however, several councils conducted their own studies, which found that they are environmentally friendly.
Are Waste Disposal Units Worth Fitting?
So, is it worth your time to have a waste disposal unit? They still are not massively popular in the UK, yet they do have various plus points that are seeing more and more households investing in one. If you want a convenient way in which to discard food without leaving it sitting in the kitchen bin, then a waste disposal unit is certainly for you.
Do you have one of these in your home? What are your thoughts on them? Are they worth the hassle or is it better to a normal waste bin? Get in touch with us to discuss this matter further. You can contact us by calling 01765 640 000 or by sending us an email at contact@kitchenwarehouseltd.com.