15 Things You Should Not Put Down Your Garbage Disposal

Garbage disposals are designed to handle small amounts of soft food waste — not everything from your kitchen. Treating a disposal like a trash can is one of the fastest ways to cause clogs, leaks, and costly plumbing repairs.

Based on common residential waste system issues, this guide covers the most important things not to put in a garbage disposal, explains why they cause damage, and shows how to avoid problems before they start.

Garbage Disposal Dos and Don’ts (Quick Rule)

If it’s hard, fibrous, greasy, expandable, or non-food, it does not belong in your disposal.

List of Things Not to Put in a Garbage Disposal

1. Coffee Grounds

Coffee grounds do not break down properly in drains. They settle inside pipes and combine with grease, forming dense sludge that often causes slow drains and clogs.

2. Pasta, Rice, and Bread

These foods expand when exposed to water. Inside plumbing, they swell into thick masses that block drain pipes, even when plenty of water is used.

3. Animal Bones

Garbage disposals are not designed to grind bones. Hard bones damage impellers and strain the motor, often leading to premature failure.

4. Nut Shells and Seafood Shells

Shells act like gravel inside a disposal. They dull grinding components and leave gritty residue that builds up in plumbing.

5. Fruit Pits and Large Seeds

Avocado pits, peach pits, and similar items are extremely hard. They bounce inside the chamber instead of breaking down, causing mechanical damage.

6. Onion Skins

Thin onion layers wrap around impellers and trap other food particles. Over time, this leads to jams and restricted grinding.

7. Egg Shells

Egg shells do not sharpen disposals. The inner membrane wraps around moving parts, while crushed shells collect in pipes and contribute to clogs.

8. Fibrous or Stringy Fruits and Vegetables

Celery, corn husks, banana peels, and asparagus contain stringy fibers. These fibers tangle inside the disposal and restrict drainage.

9. Potato Peels

Potato peels release starch when ground. This starch forms a paste that sticks to pipes and gradually reduces water flow.

10. Grease, Oil, and Fat

Liquids like grease may pour easily, but they solidify as they cool. This buildup coats pipes and traps other debris, leading to major blockages.

Grease buildup is also one of the main causes of persistent garbage disposal smell, even when the sink appears clean.

11. Non-Food Items

Paper towels, plastic, wrappers, and tissues cannot break down. These materials cause jams and often pass into pipes intact.

12. Other Starchy Foods

Oats, beans, lentils, and similar foods absorb water and expand. Inside plumbing, they behave like paste and restrict drainage.

13. Hard or Tough Foods

Raw carrots, apple cores, and tough meat scraps strain the motor and often fail to grind completely, increasing clog risk.

Hard or uneven loads are also a common reason for a vibrating garbage disposal, which often signals an imbalance or mounting issue.

14. Chemical Drain Cleaners

Harsh chemicals corrode disposal components and damage plumbing. They often make problems worse instead of fixing clogs.

Using drain cleaner in a garbage disposal can damage internal components and plumbing, often making clogs worse instead of fixing them.

15. Large Amounts of Food at Once

Even safe foods can cause issues when added in bulk. Overloading the disposal overwhelms the system and leads to jams.

Conclusion

Knowing the things not to put in garbage disposal systems is one of the simplest ways to avoid plumbing problems. Most disposal failures are caused by everyday items that seem harmless but slowly damage the system over time.

Use your disposal for small, soft food scraps only. When in doubt, choose the trash or compost bin. Proper habits protect your disposal, your plumbing, and your wallet.