Guide Note

A garbage disposal is an electric waste disposal unit installed in a kitchen sink. The unit is used to grind up pieces of food waste in order for it to pass through plumbing. Garbage disposals are common in most American households.

Fast Facts

1. Inventor: John W. Hammes
2. Invented: 1927
3. Illegal in NYC until 1997
4. 47% of US homes have one
5. Not authorized by the European Union
6. Virtually unknown in Africa
7. Divert garbage from normal landfills

Architect John W. Hammes invented the first garbage disposal in 1927. He started his own company, InSinkErator, and the first units were made available for sale in 1938 after 11 years of development. Many cities in the United States had regulations which prohibited disposing of food waste into their sewage systems. However, InSinkErator convinced many cities to reverse their decisions to allow garbage disposal units to be used. Garbage disposals were illegal in New York City until 1997 for fear that food waste would cause damage to the city sewer system.

Garbage disposals became a popular luxury household item during the 1970s and 1980s. They are now a very common in households throughout the United States.