Green bin waste disposal

Instead of the electricity suppliers fostering power meters on consumers and of which they will examine once, then occasionally glance and finally forget, it would seem best for a number of reasons to supply a waste disposal unit under each kitchen sink.

If it is true that the power required to operate a waste disposal unit is less than carting the waste to the tip then it would make sense to feed the 'soup' down the sewerage system, mix it with other degradable matter, filter out solids, semi-dry by centrifuge, compost and finally steam sterilise for garden use.

OK it may require more water - essential to prevent blockage but the water question could be recovered at the distant end. It may cause a blockage of the unit by attempting to process waste which should be recycled, consumers will quickly learn the ropes.

But it will do away with waste which quickly degrades within the household in hot weather and storage problems in households where space precludes an outside bin, reduce the number of garbage disposal trucks on the highway avoiding production of more CO2, reduce or eliminate the disposal of degradable waste in tips and hence reduce the production of methane from buried degradable wate.

Well that's a start, bound to be critics. Lets hear the good and bad comments from the intellect which abounds this forum.

Whilst this is certainly the best way to dispose of some food waste, current sewer capacity is insufficent, as is the capability at the end of the pipe to deal with it.

It is discussed somewhat here: http://environment.guardian.co.uk/columnist/story/0,,1852581,00.html

It would definetly be a good way to get rid of meat and fish waste, which are not recommended for home composting, but still leaves the problem of bones. Obviously it would also be good for areas of high density housing.

However, establishing the system would be extremely costly and far from unproblematic, especially in the case of fats being poured down the drain, which are notoriously difficult to shift with water. It does make me wonder if, whilst it is a solution with some definite positives, whether there might be a better one (such as communal compost bins that are emptied daily).

We could just tap off the methane and make use of it?
http://www.epa.gov/lmop/proj/prof/profile/energyxchangerenewableene.htm

Sounds like a "sledge hammer to crack a nut" to me. On site composting possible for anyone with a garden. Even meat and fish with a rat proof compost bin:-

http://www.greencone.com/home.asp?lang=1

For flats, there should be communal bins, emptied by the Council. If the material is allowed to rot down in situ where possible (in compost bins in the communal garden areas) before collection the bulk with be vastly reduced.

Also, sending stuff down a waste disposal unit flushed with water will wash a lot of nutrients away into the water courses. Neither will you get the same structural benefits within the soil that the application of good garden compost brings.

The real problem with compostable waste is that most people can't be bothered and why should they when the bin man comes every week and takes their rubbish problem away at no cost? They need to made to be bothered through education, having to pay to have the waste taken away and having fortnightly collections so the idle devils have to put up with a stinking bin on their drive for a while.