Garbage disposal: Just say no

Credit: iStock / JackValley

Instead of sending food waste down the drain so it can get shredded up by the garbage disposal, consider composting instead. Garbage disposals use up lots of water and energy in the process of chewing up food into little bits and flushing it away. Plus, disposing of food this way diverts it to water waste management facilities and then out into the open ocean, where it disrupts the ecosystem.

If you aren’t composting yet (seriously, it’s soo easy!), put food waste in the garbage before dumping it down the sink—at least that way you won’t be wasting as much water and energy or screwing with the ocean’s biodiversity.