Type of Commercial Garbage Disposal

A commercial garbage disposal unit is a device, typically powered by electricity, which is installed under a sink and used to shred food waste into small pieces. The shredded food waste can then safely pass through the plumbing and drain system, thus avoiding a clogged-up drain.

With the help of a kitchen waste disposal unit, food-service staff can easily pre-rinse dirty dishes before placing and storing them in an industrial-type dishwasher.

Types Of Commercial Disposal Units

First off, let's take a look at one of the most crucial commercial garbage disposal parts: the size of the motor.

1. ½ HP

These models are very similar to those used in apartments and small homes. They should be handled with general care, as they cannot hold up against heavy use like more powerful options can. ½ HP disposal units are ideal for coffee shops, quick-service restaurants, and other smaller establishments. If you have a high volume of customers on an average day, I’d recommend opting for a more robust model.

2. ¾ HP

While a bit more potent than the former, it's still made for softer foods, such as vegetables, certain fruits, and they can usually get away with handling small bones. They're a bit more reliable than the ½, but still, have some difficulty taking on harder food waste. Again, I would recommend this level of power for a small deli or café.

3. 1 HP

Since we’re talking about commercial garbage disposals, I’d highly suggest using a 1 HP unit as your bare minimum. While they’re a bit more expensive, it’s well worth it if your business is going to be tossing 100 or so meals a day down the sink. With one horsepower, you’ll experience notably smoother operation, less jamming, and more durability.

4. Greater than 1 HP (up to 3 HP)

A good amount of commercial garbage disposals are going to befall under here. Jamming is very rare, and the operation is seamless. These are so powerful that there aren't food items that would be considered unmanageable. If you’re running a large restaurant or very high-traffic deli/café, these power ratings will be able to handle anything you throw at it.

5. Garbage disposal with sink

This is a complete garbage disposal installation that can be installed in your kitchen. The food waste collector comes with a large sink, garbage disposal, and console to operate the unit. The only thing you need is a commercial kitchen faucet and a connection to your sewage. Most models recirculate the water which means less water is wasted down the drain.

6. Garbage disposal without a sink

This unit looks quite similar to garbage disposal for home use. The bulkier and powerful commercial garbage disposal can be attached under your kitchen sink. It is recommended to adapt the garbage disposal to the brand of the sink bowl, since not every garbage disposal can be connected to every type of sink. To make sure the garbage disposal is connected correctly to your sink bowl you can make use of multiple types of adapters.

7. Garbage disposal with the collection bin

This type of garbage disposal grinds up food waste but then separates the water from the food waste via a dewatering system. The so-called ‘grey water’ is flushed down the drain, while the dry food particles are captured in a bin. The dry food waste particles can then be composted to use as fertilizer later on. This is the most eco-friendly way to dispose of and reuse commercial food waste. When food waste recycling is important for your business, then this machine is recommended.