According to surveys, nearly 25% of purchased food is wasted in European countries. This means that each person gets rid of approximately 76 kilograms of unnecessary food every year. However, some of this waste ends up in composters and garbage cans instead of in the drain ends, but this type of waste disposal has negative effects in both the short and long term.
Avoid clogging the sink and toilet!
Cooking and preparation in the kitchen can produce a lot of unnecessary materials. Just think of the waste left over from processing vegetables and fruits or the used oil left over from frying. Many people simply pour unwanted waste down the drain, which is then exposed to a greater load. The pipes are not always able to transport these contaminants to further points in the system.
Solid materials can even get stuck in siphons and elbows, causing blockages in the drain relatively quickly. Cooked pasta, coffee grounds and rice grains cannot be easily removed due to their weight. Dry flour poured down the drain can lead to particularly stubborn blockages, and when mixed with water it becomes a sticky and difficult-to-remove substance.
In addition to solidifying and adhering to the walls of pipes, used oil and grease can also have harmful environmental effects if they enter the sewer. Oil droplets floating on the surface make the work of wastewater treatment plants more difficult, for example by hindering the process of breaking down pollutants. When they enter living waters, oil prevents living organisms from getting enough oxygen.
What can you do with the green waste generated in the kitchen?
It is worth sorting kitchen waste according to whether it is suitable for composting. Non-compostable waste is drain should always go into the trash instead, or better yet, into the selective collection point.
Used cooking oil is now accepted at many waste yards and gas stations. After processing, the oil can be used to produce biofuel or lubricants. This is an extremely modern solution that also protects the environment from pollution.
Although composting may seem like a perfect option primarily for those living in houses with gardens, nowadays, containers are also being manufactured for smaller kitchens in apartment buildings in which compost can be made. However, in order for the compost to be nutrient-rich, it is important to be aware of the type of waste that can be placed in the bin. Only the following green waste can be thrown into the compost:
- vegetable and fruit peels free from spraying
- eggshell
- coffee grounds and tea filter contents
- branches, leaves and other plant waste left over from ornamental garden maintenance
- inkless pieces of paper
- animal feces, except if it comes from a carnivorous animal
The finished compost can be used as fertilizer in the vegetable garden, but the ornamental plants in the apartment also enjoy it if their soil is enriched with it. If someone does not have the opportunity to compost, but would like to dispose of their collected green waste in a good place, it is recommended to visit a facility near their place of residence that specifically deals with composting.
What can you do if you already blockage developed in the system?
Most blockage can be easily removed using home methods, in addition to the well-known drain cleaners, you can also try a homemade mixture. For example, a mixture of baking soda and vinegar. To do this, pour the baking soda into the drain, then carefully pour the vinegar (or lemon juice that replaces it).
The resulting thick foam dissolves even the most stubborn dirt from the walls of the pipes. It is recommended to repeat the operation every one to two weeks, not only in case of blockages, but also for prevention.
Expert help
If you were unable to solve the blockage at home or the deposits have formed in remote, difficult-to-reach points of the system, our company has decades of experience at your disposal. We offer our services in Budapest and the surrounding counties, and we try to remedy the problems without dismantling them with our modern tools.
Contact us with confidence, even on weekends and holidays in case of emergency!