Grande Ocean taking out garbage disposals

[Bogey1]

We are owners at the Marriott Grande Ocean and on our stay two weeks ago were told by one of the staff that they were going to take out the garbage disposals in all of the units. I found this hard to believe and asked the desk clerk and eventually the assistant manager of the resort. They both said that because the disposals had been such a repair issue and had caused some flooding, they had received approval from the Board to take them out of all units.

I contacted Bob Spear, the resort manager. He was very polite but again outlined the repair issues & damage. He described sand, shells and other hard to grind items going down the disposal. He was less definite that the final decision had been made, but did reiterate that verbal approval had been given by the Board. It appeared that the final decision was his to make. He said that the other newer resorts were not putting in disposals. I have not found this in any of the ones that I have stayed, but it may be coming.

To me, the disposals are just a basic amenities like a microwave & internet service. I question the issue would be resolved with pulling the disposal. If people are dumping things into the disposal, they will probably put them down the drain & foul up the plumbing. Chances for insects and aromas will increase with more garbage going into the trash.

I suggested better disposals be installed. Some signage to educate the villa user might also help. Bob pointed out that NY city does not have disposals. So perhaps education is the key. (not to pick on NYC residents, just an example)

At any rate, if you feel as I do, then contact Bob Spear at the Marriott Grande Ocean. There appears to be no communication or surveys going out on this issue.

 

[DeniseM]

I don't have a dog in this fight, but garbage disposals are on their way out in many locations, because when you put garbage down the drain, it goes to the sewage treatment plant and increases the costs of processing. Garbage disposals also waste a lot of water.

In our city we put food waste in the "green can" with yard trimmings, etc., where it is recycled.

 

[jimf41]

I've never had one in any residence I've lived. They don't work well in systems that use septic tanks or cesspools. I've accidentally hit the switch for it at Ocean Pointe a few times and it definitely startles you if your not used to these devices. As an owner if my choice is repair, replace or eliminate I'll vote for elimination.

I don't really consider it up there with the internet and microwaves as far as necessities go.

 

[pedro47]

I agree this item is more trouble to a maintenance dept than what it is worth.

 

[dougp26364]

Interesting comments. We've had a garbage disposer for as long as my memory will go back. I've never had an issue with one and have never had issues......that I can remember.......with backed up drains due to a garbage disposer with the exception of some of the older or cheaper models that won't take potato peelings.

Like everything else, a garbage disposer takes a little bit of maintenance, the occasional cleaning and a healthy dose of common sense. Since I've seen a lot of people lacking common sense, I can see why resorts might want to get away from them.

I often wonder, do timeshare guests treat their homes the same way they treat a timeshare? Sand and shells down a garbage disposer? Really?

 

[aka Julie]

I agree with the decision to take them out. Maintenance nightmare especially with the cheap models they put in. They are very loud and in my opinion not a necessity. As a timeshare owner I don't want to have to keep paying for people to ruin an appliance.

It's unfortunate that many people don't treat the furnishings/appliances in the timeshare units like they do their own homes.

 

[BocaBoy]

I am surprised that they would take out the garbage disposals. I consider them to be a basic kitchen necessity in a decent home or apartment. Perhaps they put in cheap models, which is asking for trouble. The solution to that should be to upgrade the disposals, not take them out.

 

[jme]

We are owners at the Marriott Grande Ocean and on our stay two weeks ago were told by one of the staff that they were going to take out the garbage disposals in all of the units. I found this hard to believe and asked the desk clerk and eventually the assistant manager of the resort. They both said that because the disposals had been such a repair issue and had caused some flooding, they had received approval from the Board to take them out of all units.

I contacted Bob Spear, the resort manager. He was very polite but again outlined the repair issues & damage. He described sand, shells and other hard to grind items going down the disposal. He was less definite that the final decision had been made, but did reiterate that verbal approval had been given by the Board. It appeared that the final decision was his to make. He said that the other newer resorts were not putting in disposals. I have not found this in any of the ones that I have stayed, but it may be coming.

To me, the disposals are just a basic amenities like a microwave & internet service. I question the issue would be resolved with pulling the disposal. If people are dumping things into the disposal, they will probably put them down the drain & foul up the plumbing. Chances for insects and aromas will increase with more garbage going into the trash.

I suggested better disposals be installed. Some signage to educate the villa user might also help. Bob pointed out that NY city does not have disposals. So perhaps education is the key. (not to pick on NYC residents, just an example)

At any rate, if you feel as I do, then contact Bob Spear at the Marriott Grande Ocean. There appears to be no communication or surveys going out on this issue.

We certainly enjoy having a garbage disposal in our kitchen (we have a good quality one and use it wisely), but I can see why they're doing away with them, and imho, it's not a big deal and i probably would make the same decision if I were resort manager.

I know Bob Spear and i can already tell by your words with him that he's going to take them out. Sounds like it's a done deal. He's a practical guy and it's probably for the good of all. Money is always an issue, and part of everyone's maintenance fee goes toward the upkeep and damage. Loss prevention is huge at MGO and elsewhere.

Bogey1, I wouldn't waste my time on this one, or else you'll have to make a name change to DoubleBogey.

 

[BocaBoy]

To me, the disposals are just a basic amenities like a microwave & internet service. I question the issue would be resolved with pulling the disposal. If people are dumping things into the disposal, they will probably put them down the drain & foul up the plumbing. Chances for insects and aromas will increase with more garbage going into the trash.

I suggested better disposals be installed. Some signage to educate the villa user might also help. Bob pointed out that NY city does not have disposals. So perhaps education is the key. (not to pick on NYC residents, just an example)

The ban on garbage disposals in New York City was eliminated in 1997. (And I think the ban covered only something like 70% of the city.) Bob Spear is playing fast and loose with the facts.

 

[puppymommo]

So aside from composting, what is the most eco-friendly way of disposing of food waste? Garbage disposal, toilet, trash?

I have wondered this for quite awhile and am very interested in your answers.

Thanks!

 

[piper_chuck]

The ban on garbage disposals in New York City was eliminated in 1997. (And I think the ban covered only something like 70% of the city.) Bob Spear is playing fast and loose with the facts.

Raleigh, NC attempted to ban disposals a while back. The attempt didn't get very far.

 

[piper_chuck]

I've never had one in any residence I've lived. They don't work well in systems that use septic tanks or cesspools.

Really? All but one of the houses I've lived in or owned for the last 40 years or so have had septic and a garbage disposal. Never had a problem with the disposal or the tanks.

The key to having a garbage disposal get along with the septic/sewer system is to remember it's not for grinding up ALL one's garbage. Rather, it's for grinding up the occasional things that find their way in the sink. Large quantities of things such as peels, corn husks, scrap meat, etc, are solid waste and should go in the trash can, not down the drain.

 

[piper_chuck]

So aside from composting, what is the most eco-friendly way of disposing of food waste? Garbage disposal, toilet, trash?

I have wondered this for quite awhile and am very interested in your answers.

Thanks!

Food waste, if not composted or sent somewhere like a pig farm, belongs in the landfills, not down the drain.

 

[piper_chuck]

We are owners at the Marriott Grande Ocean and on our stay two weeks ago were told by one of the staff that they were going to take out the garbage disposals in all of the units. I found this hard to believe and asked the desk clerk and eventually the assistant manager of the resort. They both said that because the disposals had been such a repair issue and had caused some flooding, they had received approval from the Board to take them out of all units.

I contacted Bob Spear, the resort manager. He was very polite but again outlined the repair issues & damage. He described sand, shells and other hard to grind items going down the disposal. He was less definite that the final decision had been made, but did reiterate that verbal approval had been given by the Board. It appeared that the final decision was his to make. He said that the other newer resorts were not putting in disposals. I have not found this in any of the ones that I have stayed, but it may be coming.

To me, the disposals are just a basic amenities like a microwave & internet service. I question the issue would be resolved with pulling the disposal. If people are dumping things into the disposal, they will probably put them down the drain & foul up the plumbing. Chances for insects and aromas will increase with more garbage going into the trash.

I suggested better disposals be installed. Some signage to educate the villa user might also help. Bob pointed out that NY city does not have disposals. So perhaps education is the key. (not to pick on NYC residents, just an example)

At any rate, if you feel as I do, then contact Bob Spear at the Marriott Grande Ocean. There appears to be no communication or surveys going out on this issue.

It's interesting that an owners newsletter that was emailed yesterday detailed many things, but has no mention of the disposal issue. It was signed by Bob Spear. Sounds like they don't want owner input on this. Anyone have the email ids of the board members?

 

[Steve]

Maybe they can use the savings to heat the swimming pools?!?!

Steve

 

[TheTimeTraveler]

Really? All but one of the houses I've lived in or owned for the last 40 years or so have had septic and a garbage disposal. Never had a problem with the disposal or the tanks.

The key to having a garbage disposal get along with the septic/sewer system is to remember it's not for grinding up ALL one's garbage. Rather, it's for grinding up the occasional things that find their way in the sink. Large quantities of things such as peels, corn husks, scrap meat, etc, are solid waste and should go in the trash can, not down the drain.

A garbage disposal can be very harsh on a septic system UNLESS the system was designed with a garbage disposal in mind.

I once lived in a town where the Board of Health required the system to be designed for a garbage disposal even though the current owner did not intend on installing one at all. Reason being is that subsequent owners may install one instead.

Clearly certain things should never go down a disposal to begin with as that's where a lot of garbage disposal issues originate (i.e. lack of fully grinding).




.

 

[Holly]

The problem is that not everyone has them so not everyone knows how to use them. I grew up in Texas, and moved to NYC in 1990. In 1997, when I brought my now husband down to Texas for the first time he jumped three feet in the air when my father turned on the garbage disposal! It was hilarious! He had really never seen one in action. (My parents were like, "where did you find this guy?")

Anyway, when we renovated our house in Brooklyn I insisted that we put in a "garbage grinder", as they are called here. He STILL doesn't know how to use it and just puts everything in the trash.

Some people don't know what you should and shouldn't put in there.

 

[jimf41]

The problem is that not everyone has them so not everyone knows how to use them. I grew up in Texas, and moved to NYC in 1990. In 1997, when I brought my now husband down to Texas for the first time he jumped three feet in the air when my father turned on the garbage disposal! It was hilarious! He had really never seen one in action. (My parents were like, "where did you find this guy?")

Anyway, when we renovated our house in Brooklyn I insisted that we put in a "garbage grinder", as they are called here. He STILL doesn't know how to use it and just puts everything in the trash.

Some people don't know what you should and shouldn't put in there.

You should have been there the first time I accidentally hit the garbage disposal switch at Ocean Pointe. Not only did I jump but the Grandkids ran screaming for their parents. According to the stats listed on the Wikipedia site only 50% of US households have them. Outside the US hardly anyone has them.

Therein lies the problem. Proudly counting myself in as as one of the have nots I have no idea how you are supposed to use this thing or what type of stuff goes in it. It's no wonder then that they get abused and break down frequently. I'm still for eliminating them.

 

[Paumavista]

Another vote for eliminating them

We've had them and now we don't.

Certainly this is not an essential kitchen appliance/device (as statistics show only 50% of homes have them).....in these times of setting financial priorities...and every dollar counts - we need to set priorities.

 

[FlyerBobcat]

Certainly this is not an essential kitchen appliance/device (as statistics show only 50% of homes have them).....in these times of setting financial priorities...and every dollar counts - we need to set priorities.

Agreed here....

 

[Bogey1]

It's been interesting reading the comments from others. A good discussion! Three recurring items appears to be "going green", the noise of the disposals and educating on care & use. I've owned timeshares since the early '90's and the disposals in those units sounded like a jet engine. Marriott must have bought the absolute cheapest units available. Subsequent replacements are (despite the comments) quieter than those early models. Still, they are much louder than the one that I have in my own home. One of my original points was the need for signage in the kitchen on what goes in (or doesn't) the disposal.

I've pasted some info from an article about the company. Certainly more of a selling piece versus hard news reporting. I own no stock nor have any interest in the company, but thought the comments on Stockholm & Milwaukee were at least worth examining. Also, note that this company makes eight different residential models plus a industrial model that they claim can "run forever'. Point being, there are sturdier and quieter models available.

From Biztimes.com
InSinkErator builds eight different residential garbage disposer models, ranging from one to three stages and from one-third of a horsepower to one horsepower, each with varying levels of sound reduction.

“The (Evolution PRO) Excel (the company’s top-line residential model) is at least 60 percent quieter than the standard disposal unit,” MacNair said. “We have a number of technologies we use in it, such as the anti-vibration mount, which isolates the motor from the sink and dramatically reduces noise and vibration.”

InSinkErator produces its line of commercial disposal units in its facility in Sturtevant, which also serves as its distribution center. The commercial disposers are used in restaurants, schools, hotels and institutional settings, MacNair said.”Conceptually, it’s the same idea as a home disposal unit,” he said. “But they are much larger – up to 10 horsepower and designed for continuous duty. You can leave these on and they can run virtually forever.”

InSinkErator plans to capitalize on the growing interest in “green” products to increase its global sales. While the company now sells its disposal units in 90 different countries, the majority of its sales are in the U.S.

“A garbage disposal unit makes better sense for food waste than throwing it into a landfill, he said, because wastewater treatment facilities can capture material and find ways to use it.

“MMSD (Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District) currently ‘harvests’ its wastewater for renewable content,” MacNair said. “They turn it into clean water, renewable energy in the form of methane gas and fertilizer.”
European countries, which used to discourage garbage disposal units in the past, have started to see them as a way to prevent food-related waste entering landfills, which could help InSinkErator increase sales there.

“Stockholm (Sweden) is now encouraging disposers,” MacNair said. “The bid idea is getting closer to the promise of reducing, reusing and recycling, using all of the resources we have.”

I have to reiterate that my own objection to taking them out is that I still view it as a basic kitchen item. I'm pretty sure that every timeshare with a kitchen that I have stayed in whether a Marriott or other brands has had a disposal. So look for other solutions to resolve the damage issue.

 

[Mamianka]

Food waste, if not composted or sent somewhere like a pig farm, belongs in the landfills, not down the drain.

The standing joke in my family when I was growing up in Massachusetts was based on my Dad's evening perusal of the fruit basket, looking for any apples, pears, etc. that were bruised. He would sit down in front of the TV with a paring knife, and trim them and eat them - not before asking my Mom - who put the "clean" garbage in a separate container, to be picked up by the Holbrook Piggery: "Evelyn, can I eat this, or are you saving it for the pigs?" http://tugbbs.com/forums/images/smilies/hysterical.gif

We have never had a garbage disposal of the mechanical type; the old one was named Walter, and my current one for the last 40 years is named Peter. They never break down, will take ANYTHING, and are enviro-friendly.

I will therefor not miss mechanical garbage disposals in the timeshares. We DO miss our nice espresso/cappuccino maker - it breaks our hearts to pay so much at "Charbucks" when the coffee is better at home - and cheaper, even when you factor in a top-of-the-line maker, and all those coffees and syrups. Plus - my own barista is cuter, and knows what I like . http://tugbbs.com/forums/images/smilies/wink.gif. We take our old-school espresso pot and own coffee now.

 

[Quilter]

The building of our first Chicago condo did not allow garbage disposals. The newly constructed building where we now live has them. According to the building engineer they are a problem. Well it's really the people who use them who are the problem. Many feel anything can be ground up and washed down the drain. I found this out the hard way when our unit was flooded by a back up in the main pipe to our kitchen drain. It wasn't our junk in the pipe but the collection from the floors above us that clogged the drain. We weren't in our condo at the time. We got the call while on a walk in New Hampshire during a leaf peeping vacation. No one knew about the flood until it started leaking through to the unit below. Major cost for repair in more than one unit.

 

[piper_chuck]

The building of our first Chicago condo did not allow garbage disposals. The newly constructed building where we now live has them. According to the building engineer they are a problem. Well it's really the people who use them who are the problem. Many feel anything can be ground up and washed down the drain. I found this out the hard way when our unit was flooded by a back up in the main pipe to our kitchen drain. It wasn't our junk in the pipe but the collection from the floors above us that clogged the drain. We weren't in our condo at the time. We got the call while on a walk in New Hampshire during a leaf peeping vacation. No one knew about the flood until it started leaking through to the unit below. Major cost for repair in more than one unit.

The Raleigh sewer dept tried to blame all their problems on disposals too. They cited sewers being backed up by grease and solid objects and then concluded that disposals were the cause of all their problems. What they failed to admit is disposal or not, people are going to put grease down drains. At least with the disposal, the solid objects are ground up much finer.

I'm not in building maintenance, but I suspect most (good) companies that are establish a regular cycle of cleaning drains to avoid backups.

 

[tlwmkw]

Wasn't there a serial killer who ground up his victims in garbage disposals? Perhaps that is what GO is trying to avoid.

Personally I don't think they are necessary and don't care if they are there or not.

tlwmkw