Is It Safe to Put Potato Peelings Down the Garbage Disposal?

The Potato Problem

• Once ground in your garbage disposal, potato peelings form a clumpy paste and expand into a mashed potatolike consistency. This makes potato peels one of the prime culprits of clogs in a garbage disposal.

Unclogging the Disposal

• If you want to try to unclog the disposal on your own, then you will need to disconnect the drain trap. Then, you remove the drain trap from the disposal's discharge drain. Empty the trap to remove the items clogging the disposal. You will probably need to contact a professional if you do not find the ground potato peels in the trap. This means the clog is probably located in the pipe flowing into the wall.

Make Compost, Not Clogs

• Make a compost container for your potato peels and other vegetable peels. Simply purchase an airtight plastic container. Each time you peel a potato, dump the peels in the container and seal it. Empty the container in a compost bin outside daily. This will prevent flies, bugs and smells in your kitchen. Over time, your peels will turn into organic matter -- called compost -- which you can use in your garden.

Similar Peel Culprits

• If you grind banana peels in your garbage disposal, you may get a similar clog to a potato peel clog. The banana peels form starchy clumps of banana residue that often are stringy.