Philly is back with its greenwashing initiative, touting in-sink food waste disposals (aka garbage disposals) as a sustainable solution and requiring them in all new residential construction.

According to a press release:

Philadelphia is tackling the challenge of diverting household food scraps from its trash by requiring in-sink food waste disposers (aka garbage disposals) to be installed in all new residential construction.  The building code amendment was adopted by the City Council on December 3, 2015, and signed into law by former Mayor Michael Nutter on December 23 – it took effect on January 1.

The problem with this campaign? Composting is way more sustainable. The process actually puts many vital nutrients back into the ground, and can overall reduce the amount of fertilizers and chemicals in our ground. (AKA you’re eating less pesticides when farmers use organic compost.) 

Lucky for you guys, we actually called this greenwashing almost 4 years ago with Nutter’s / Streets Department’s “the Dirt Factory” campaign. Plus, this isn’t great for water: the average household uses 700 gallons per year JUST to push food down the drain with a garbage disposal.

Shocker (also from the press release): “The project was led by the Streets Department’s recycling division, supported by the Philadelphia Water Department and InSinkErator, the world’s leading manufacturer of food waste processing systems.” Corporate influence over sustainable solutions?

Just to clarify: garbage disposals are better than food scraps in a landfill. But the good ol’ fashion way, composting – is the king of them all.

Plus, Philly has FREE composting programs available. If only they can expand it to residential food scraps besides the Dirt Factory…

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Julie Hancher is Editor-in-Chief of Green Philly, sharing her expertise of all things sustainable in the city of brotherly love. She enjoys long walks in the park with local beer and greening her travels, cooking & cat, Sir Floofus Drake. View all posts by Julie Hancher