Foodservice operators should first check with local zoning or municipal boards to ensure they can use these units in their businesses as some municipalities have regulations regarding the use of disposers or prohibit their use altogether. Also, some local requirements may impact the units an operator can specify, including ordinances that dictate the use of grease traps or interceptors.
Because many operations become more dependent on these systems than originally anticipated, specifying a system with greater horsepower to handle larger amounts of waste as the use increases should be considered.
There are several other considerations when choosing the appropriate disposer for an application. A main factor is size, with larger models handling higher volumes of food waste. When sizing a disposer, the food waste’s density is a prime consideration. There are disadvantages in picking the wrong size; under-sizing can cause issues like jams and slow throughput, while oversizing can sacrifice cost and energy savings.
To ensure efficient operation and help circumvent sink backups, the drain line size must adequately meet the needs of the foodservice operation. Operators can take advantage of manufacturers’ free site surveys, which verify that the disposer’s drain line can handle the foodservice operation’s waste.
Determine the disposer’s location and mounting when specifying. Frequently used in the pot/dish area when a multipurpose sink is not necessary, one mounting type includes welding a prefabricated bowl into a stainless-steel countertop or a sink collar adapter to install into a sink drain. A second type utilizes sink collar adapters for sinks used in conjunction with the disposer for more than just food disposal (such as with food preparation, rinsing out coffee equipment or just general-purpose use).
When a scrap sink is utilized for breaking down dishes and silverware at a dishwasher, a disposer is used with a rack guide for scrapping/loading of dish racks into the dish machine.
Over the years, there have been disposer enhancements that focus on water conservation. With one system, an enhanced control panel regulates the amount of fresh water being used in the grinding process. Some models use a semi-closed system that recirculates the water being used to grind, only adding fresh water when necessary.
Other disposer options include auto-reversing motors that help prevent jamming, perforated silver savers that prevent metal silverware from entering the grinding chamber, and throat guards and offset chutes that prevent access to the cutting chamber inside of the disposer.
