Residential garbage disposals grind fruits, vegetables, and smaller scraps of food so they can be easily flushed down the drain. They help reduce the amount of food waste in landfills and are used in residential kitchens.

Commercial garbage disposals have heavy-duty motors that drive multiple cast-iron blades to shred and grind food waste. By grinding food and flushing it down drainage systems, they reduce the time and effort spent hauling bags of waste to dumpsters. They are commonly used in schools, healthcare facilities, restaurants, and other commercial kitchens where continuous use is required.