A couple months ago in Reno, Nevada I presented at the Onsite Wastewater Mega-Conference – mega because it was a joint conference for the National Association of Wastewater Technicians and the National Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association.

Much of my work is focused on centralized wastewater treatment, but this event was centered on decentralized treatment (septic systems). Since I recently wrote a whitepaper on how it is okay to have a disposer on a septic system, it was the perfect venue for further discussion on the topic.

After listening to the plenary speakers Robert Siegrist and George Tchobanoglous, as well as Andrew Sawyers of the USEPA, the conference theme was clear – “managing a precious resource, water.”

Emphasis was placed on new terminology and a paradigm shift in how we view decentralized systems. As wastewater professionals, we were encouraged to adopt the lexis of treatment systems instead of septic systems and “water recycle and reuse” versus disposal. We were also encouraged to consider the optimum use of carbon, in which food waste and sewage can be used to make energy and fertilizer.

Most people I spoke with didn’t express concern about disposers on septic systems. However, there were questions at the conclusion of my presentation on the impacts of the additional 20-30% load and FOG, especially where new systems are now requiring effluent screens on the tanks. This might be resolved by simply requiring a two-compartment tank, as is the case in Minnesota.

I came away from the conference with thoughts regarding the fundamental science that is overlooked with disposers. Food waste is 70-90% water, and disposers were designed to quickly and conveniently grind the remaining solids into fine particles that can be sent through plumbing pipes without clogs.* By grinding food waste into very small particles, disposers exponentially increase the surface area available for microorganisms to break down the organics.

By adding water, the slurry starts to undergo hydrolysis, fermentation and acidification. Soon-to-be published research from Cornell shows that this happens very quickly.  Even when the slurry is held in a tank. Mix slurry with the biology of a sewer or a septic tank, and it’s easy to see how the food waste rapidly breaks down.

Perhaps this is why treatment plants in areas where 90% of homes have a disposer are not experiencing organic overload and why there is no evidence that disposers are the cause of septic system failures.

Bad odors often elicit gnarled faces, loud incomprehensible reactions, and even gagging. This is because we are created in such a way to instinctively react to things we should avoid. Garbage, and specifically food waste, provokes this reaction because the decay of organic material results in emissions such as ammonia, sulfides, mercaptans, and butyric acid, as well as bioaerosols. Both types of emissions are to be avoided, because there are potential health implications from exposure to either of them.

Ew! What’s That Smell?

Decay of organic material requires microorganisms like bacteria to convert complex molecules and break them down into simpler ones like carbon dioxide and water. Unfortunately, during the process of decay, some malodorous chemicals from the garbage bin are telling us that not only should we have gotten rid of that rancid stuff sooner, but also that there are potentially harmful bacteria lurking in there!

Recent research from Open University in the UK investigated the release of bioaerosols from trash and revealed that after four weeks, bacteria types increase, resulting in the release of higher levels of endotoxins. The research did not indicate a significant increase earlier than two weeks. While the authors mention more study is needed, they also recommend conducting risk assessments for waste collectors since there is a known dose response relationship for endotoxins.

A few cities in the U.S.A. recently started biweekly trash pick-up. However, putrescible waste must be collected weekly, so where cities invest in green bin programs to collect organics, they can justify less frequent, biweekly trash pick-up. Nevertheless, it is not a good idea to let your organics stay in the trash for a lengthy time. Most everyone has experienced the smell of rotten garbage in much less time than two weeks. That being said, most trash is picked up much more frequently than every four weeks, but if you want to end the odors, why not avoid bioaerosols or endotoxins altogether and use your garbage disposer!