WHO KNEW that Garbage Disposal Units Are Not Allowed in Hanover?
Who Knew that garbage disposals are not allowed in the Hanover Sewer System Catchment Area and are not recommended for residents with septic systems. /
A recent meeting of the Sustainable Hanover Waste Reduction team brought up the option of using a garbage disposal to manage residential kitchen waste. A discussion with our town Building Inspector made it clear that garbage disposals are not allowed for anyone tied to the town’s sewer system primarily because the increase of stringy materials discharged into the waste water can block the system. Local plumbers are aware of this rule. See Hanover’s Municipal Sewer Ordinance #14 2.2 W. Section W specifically states no garbage grinding or shredding devices are allowed. A garbage disposal can also be called a food waste dispenser or sink macerator. However described, it is designed to shred/grind food into smaller pieces to then pass into the sewer system.
The Hanover wastewater ordinance banned such devices in 2010. If you have one, it should not be used. For anyone with a septic system there is no outright ban but they are not recommended because the increase in sludge levels may double the number of times one must pump the tank which can be an expensive process. If you do own and use one, it is important to know what should and shouldn’t go in. The list of acceptable items is much shorter than the unacceptable items. See your appliance manual for details
Composting is an excellent alternative to using a garbage disposal. For people living in apartments or condos with limited outdoor space, it is a challenge to compost. In Hanover/Etna we have several options beyond backyard composting. We Recycle Food.com is the food waste recycling division of Nordic Waste Services, LLC. For a monthly charge they will provide 5 gallon buckets for compostables and will pick up weekly. A cheaper method is to use a Nordic Waste bucket and exchange it yourself at the Hanover or Lebanon Coop during regular business hours. In each case it will be exchanged for a fresh bucket, liner and lid. Check out their website for details.
A cheaper alternative is to deliver your own bucket of compostables to the Lebanon landfill. For the price of a permit ($5.00/year), drop off is free.
The cheapest method of all (and my favorite) is backyard composting. For more information go to and check out composting resourcesin the Environment section of the Sustainable Hanover website.