Have you ever had that sinking feeling that you’re contributing to the destruction of the environment by letting your food waste go to landfills? Well, you wouldn’t be wrong. Not only does this increase the emission of greenhouse gases, but landfills are also already loaded up with other types of garbage. So adding around 34 million tons of food waste each year (the US only) is just plain crazy. If you are able to compost some of your food waste, then that’s a great alternative to landfills: garbage disposals!
This handy device can be installed right under your kitchen sink and it will shred your food waste into minute scraps and flushed with water into your plumbing to end up in your septic system or at the wastewater treatment plant.
So, which one should you get? With so many choices before you, it can be time-consuming to pick the right one. That’s why we chose the 10 best garbage disposals in the market for you.
Top 10 Garbage Disposals Of 2020 Reviewed
1. InSinkErator Evolution Excel
Garbage Disposal On A Budget
InSinkErator is the best in the business when it comes to creating garbage disposals so it’s no wonder really that their Evolution Excel is considered the best in the market today. It features a 1hp line induction motor that’s both powerful and quiet, backed with a 7-year in-home warranty.
The company’s MultiGrind technology ensures that any food waste passing through quickly becomes mincemeat. And its unique locking mechanism makes it easy to install.
Pros:
- Powerful but quiet motor
- Long warranty
- Easy to install
Cons:
- Expensive
- Some users report leaking from the bottom
- Poor customer service
2. Waste King L-2600
Garbage Disposal On A Budget
The Waste King L-2600 is a bestseller in Amazon because it’s got a lot of bang for your buck. It has a 1/2 HP, 2600 rpm permanent magnet motor and a glass-filled nylon grinding chamber with stainless steel components. For a continuous-feed disposer, this device is powerful and provides jam-free waste disposal.
The materials used in creating the grinding chamber and components ensure your machine will remain corrosion-free. Waste King backs this all up with a 5-year In-home service warranty.
Pros:
- Easy to install
- Includes a 36-inch power cord (most models don’t)
- Compact size (14×9 inches)
Cons:
- Loud
- No hole at the bottom for inserting a hex key to unjam
- Some users don’t like the plastic outer housing
3. InSinkErator Evolution Compact Garbage Disposal
Garbage Disposal For Small Spaces
If you have a smaller household, you don’t cook a lot, or you just want more space in your cabinets, then you should consider the InSinkErator Evolution Compact. Though small, it still has enough power to grind potato peels and bones into mincemeat. And it comes with most of the features found in the Evolution Excel – MultiGrind Technology, SoundSeal Technology, and Quick Lock Technology.
It has a 3/4 HP Dura-Drive Induction motor that powers the two layers of grind to ensure no food clogs or jams the system. It has a 34.6 oz capacity in the grinder chamber which is made of stainless steel.
Pros:
- Space-saving design
- Easy to install
- Really quiet
Cons:
- No power cord
- The Quiet Collar Sink Baffle slows down water and food drainage in the sink
- Output connection is a rubber hose
4. Waste King L-3200
Garbage Disposal On A Budget
This model from Waste King is a little bit more powerful than our other pick from Waste King’s Legend series. It features a sound-insulated, 3/4 hp permanent magnet motor that delivers 2,700 RPMs and stainless steel grind components. The device also has a mounting system made out of aluminum and a pre-installed power cord, making installation a breeze.
The removable splash guard allows for a more thorough cleaning. This garbage disposal is also septic safe for properly sized septic tanks. As an added bonus, Waste King offers an 8-year Limited In-Home Warranty.
Pros:
- Excellent customer service
- Easy to install
- Powerful motor
Cons:
- Requires a bit of a push to get food through the opening
- Not as quiet as some garbage disposal devices at this price point
- Some users felt the plastic housing was flimsy/cheap
5. Moen GXS75C
Garbage Disposal On A Budget
The Moen GXS75C is another garbage disposal device that has a 3/4 hp motor producing 2700 RPMs. It also features stainless steel grind components, a pre-installed power cord, and a removable rubber splash guard.
So what makes it different? It has a Universal Xpress Mount which fits most existing 3-bolt mounting assemblies such as what you’ll find with the InSinkErator models. And it makes use of SoundShield technology to ensure that the motor is less noisy compared to other models.
Pros:
- Easy to install
- Powerful enough to grind chicken bones
- Pre-installed power cord
Cons:
- Loud
- Some users feel that the waste arm bracket diameter is too big
- No hole at the bottom to put a hex wrench in to fix the grinder when it jams
6. Kitchen Aid KCDB250G
Garbage Disposal On A Budget
The KitchenAid KCDB250G is perfect for you if your budget doesn’t allow you to go over $110. While it’s definitely cheaper than our other picks, it’s the best you’ll find at this price point. It has a 1/2 hp motor that runs quietly and does a pretty good job of ensuring your food waste turns into tiny particles and gets washed down the drain quickly.
It’s also small and light, perfect for small households who lack space under the sink. While you only get a 1-year warranty, there have been few complaints regarding its durability.
Pros:
- Grinds food really well
- Compact and easy to install
- Budget-friendly
Cons:
- Short warranty
- Expensive replacement parts
- Some users still felt the device was loud
7. InSinkErator Badger 5XP Garbage Disposal
Garbage Disposal On A Budget
If you have a couple of extra bucks with you, you can upgrade from the budget-friendly KitchenAid to the budget-friendly option of InSinkErator – the Badger 5XP. It comes with a ¾ HP induction motor and a 26 oz. grind chamber with galvanized steel grind system.
The bottom of the device features a hole where you can insert a Z bend Allen wrench to unjam the unit. This is a straightforward, no-frills garbage disposal unit. It’s not as quiet or as powerful as its more expensive siblings (we’re looking at you Evolution Excel). But it does a good enough job, especially at this price point.
Pros:
- Budget-friendly
- Easy to install
- Works very well even when performing “heavy” tasks (i.e. celery)
Cons:
- Plastic housing cracks
- Power cord not included
- Not as quiet as more expensive models
8. InSinkErator Evolution Septic Assist
Garbage Disposal For Septic
If your home uses a septic system, then the InSinkErator Evolution Septic Assist is the best option for you. This machine is specifically designed to ensure that your food waste is ground into small itty, bitty pieces and breaks down quickly so your septic tank won’t overflow. It is able to do this using its 3/4 hp motor that powers two stages of grind in combination with the Bio-Charge Injection Technology.
The device comes with a cartridge that contains millions of enzyme-producing microorganisms that will break down food waste. This treatment is injected every time you use the garbage disposal and it has a citrus scent which ensures no bad odors come from your sink or drain.
Pros:
- Bio-Charge Technology
- Powerful but quiet motor
- Solid construction
Cons:
- Requires purchasing the enzyme cartridge every few months
- Power cord not included
- The sound-dampening baffle makes draining the sink a very slow process
9. KitchenAid KCDS100T
Garbage Disposal On A Budget
If you want some bells and whistles with your garbage disposal and have the money to back it up, then you might be interested in KitchenAid’s KCDS100T. This continuous-feed disposer runs on a 1hp motor that can reach a maximum speed of 1,725 RPMs.
It makes use of a three-stage grinding technology that can pulverize corn husks and celery (and other stringy food). It also features SoundSeal™ Plus Technology which ensures that your machine is 60% quieter than standard disposers. The device also has overload protection with a manual reset which stops the machine before a problem could occur (i.e. overheating, clogs)
Pros:
- Really quiet
- Powerful motor
- Jam sensor that triggers an increase in grinding power when needed
Cons:
- Very expensive
- Larger than regular garbage disposals
10. General Electric GFC320V
Garbage Disposal On A Budget
General Electric GFC320V has a 1/3 permanent magnet motor that produces over 2500 RPM grinding action. It features a large capacity grind chamber with a galvanized steel turntable and stainless steel, dual-swivel, anti-jam grinding blades.
This GE model comes with a direct-wire power connection, a splash guard, a wall-switch with a sink stopper, a stainless steel sink flange, and a manual reset overload protector. Its compact design makes it perfect for small households.
Pros:
- Compact
- Durable
- Affordable
Cons:
- Noisy
- Some users have reported that it feeds a bit slower than other standard garbage disposals
- Requires a professional (or experienced handyman) to do the power connection
Choosing The Best Garbage Disposal – The Ultimate Buying Guide
Yes, having garbage disposal attached directly to your sink is extremely convenient. But it’s also environmentally friendly. After all, you’re making sure your food waste doesn’t add on to the growing pile of garbage in your local landfill. And you’re stopping the food waste from decomposing and increasing the emission of greenhouse gases.
We have enough problems as it is. Unfortunately, there’s no such thing as one-size-fits-all garbage disposal. So if you want to find one that fits your needs to a T, then you need to know what features to look at. We’ve got a guide to help you out. Let’s get down to it.
Batch-Feed or Continuous Feed?
Batch-feed models require users to load the grinding chamber with a batch of food waste, close it with a stopper, and turn on the motor. This works best if you only have a small amount of food waste to grind and/or you have children in the house who might accidentally turn on garbage disposal while their small hands are trying to get a foreign object that fell inside. In short, this is a much safer option. However, models like this tend to be more expensive and will require more time to process food waste if you have a lot of it.
A continuous-feed model, on the other hand, runs as long as you have turned it on. It doesn’t matter if the chamber has been filled with food waste or not. Models in this category tend to be less expensive and eliminates waste faster. However, you’ll need to have the water running to flush the food waste down so your water bill will definitely be increasing. And there are safety issues. You’ll need to be vigilant if there are small children in your house. Also, foreign objects that accidentally fall into the disposal could cause damage.
How Much Power Do I Need?
Obviously, you’ll need enough power to grind your food waste to dust (or as near to that as possible. So how much power you’ll need will depend on what kind of food you’ll be grinding and how much of it do you need to grind. The motor power is measured in horsepower (hp). A 1/3 hp motor like what you’d find in the General Electric GFC320V is perfect for really small households (1-2 people) who primarily eat soft foods such as non-fibrous veggies. A lot of models feature a 1/2 hp motor like the Waste King L-2600. This is a bit more powerful than a 1/3 hp motor but only good for food waste from 2-3 people who don’t use their kitchen much.
The next level would be the 3/4 hp motor which is perfect for households of 4-5 people while the 1hp motor would be sufficient for a large household that produces a lot of food waste. Both of these two types of motors run more smoothly compared to the first two. They also usually feature noise reduction insulation. Even better, you can be sure that your waste gets pulverized even if you’re getting rid of chicken bones and celery.
How Much Space is there Inside Your Cabinet?
Bigger may seem better and it’s true to a certain extent. Models that have more powerful motors like the InSinkErator Evolution Excel require larger housing which translates to bigger space. If you have limited space under your sink, you’ll need to get something models that have a smaller profile such as the InSinkErator Evolution Compact Garbage Disposal.
Other features you may want to look at as well include easy installation, quiet operation, pre-installed power cord, price, and warranty. Just remember, your garbage disposal should make things convenient for you; it should not be a source of frustration. Choose wisely or you’ll find your money will be the one going down the drain.
Conclusion
As long as you’re settled within any given living space, generating any amount of trash is guaranteed. However, as there are increased environmental safety laws and a general national mood geared to greener surroundings, proper disposal of waste has never been more crucial.
The best in terms of quality, affordability, and convenience have already been outlined for you. All you need is to think about what your chief considerations are and make the purchase.
