Retailer Case Study: Fit for Purpose

Shehryar Khan, designer and owner of Sheraton Interiors, explains why an InSinkErator food waste disposer was top of his clients’ wishlist in this project

As prolific cooks and entertainers, my clients told me early on that one of their bug bears was food waste and they were, therefore, open to conversations on how best to manage that from very early on. They were conscious that if they had people over for dinner they wouldn’t want food waste hanging around and causing unwanted odours. 

From an aesthetic perspective, they wanted integrated bins, and these generally go hand-in-hand with specifying a food waste disposer, because it frees up space in the bins for more recycling and non-food waste. So, it solves another problem. 

The clients had heard about InSinkErator food waste disposers and came to me with specific questions about them. They wanted me to highlight the pros and cons and to find out whether, in my opinion, they needed one. For me it’s quite simple, food waste disposers are a must-have particularly for clients, like these, who love cooking and entertaining. They are quick, clean and hygienic and a very convenient way of getting rid of food waste. 

In this kitchen specifically, the only challenge was finding a food waste disposal unit that would fit neatly underneath the Belfast sink. They’re deeper than the average sink and because the sink actually sits on the base unit, you automatically have less space in which to fit a food waste disposal unit underneath. Luckily, InSinkErator has a range of models in different sizes so there is generally one that suits the needs of each client in terms of the power they need but also in terms of the space they have available. For  this project we chose the premium Evolution 150 model which is specifically built for growing and busy households. 

Although these clients were pretty much set on specifying a food waste disposer, aside from the hygiene element, there is also another angle to including them in a kitchen project and that is the sustainable benefits they offer, which are a growing concern for many consumers, particularly among city dwellers. A lot of our clients tend to make decisions around the ‘green’ aspect of products these days. 

In the UK, around 6.6 million tonnes of food waste ends up in landfill* and that emits harmful gasses which adds to our carbon footprint. InSinkErator food waste disposers allow food to be dealt with in a sustainable manner. Instead of going to landfill, leftovers from food preparation or inedible food waste is ground into fine particles which are simply rinsed away safely down the drain to wastewater treatment. Where there is an anaerobic digester within the sewerage system, the nutrients from the food waste can be recovered and turned into biogas and fertiliser for agriculture. Not only does this offer an alternative to traditional disposal methods, but by reducing food waste to landfill sites, it also helps to cut greenhouse gases and the household’s carbon footprint.

In terms of the design, it’s a big space but because it was going to be a busy kitchen and because they specifically wanted to incorporate an island unit as well as a dining table and sideboard, our challenge was to keep the design symmetrical and aesthetically pleasing. As well as specifically requesting a food waste disposal unit, they also wanted lots of storage, including a hidden breakfast area. So, there were tricky aspects to the project but we worked hard to accommodate them all.

THE PROPERTY
A 1920s detached, three-bedroom terraced house in Wandsworth, London.
THE CLIENT
A young couple renovating their first home. They love to cook and entertain friends and family.
THE BRIEF
The couple wanted a traditional kitchen with a modern twist. The space had to cater for their love of cooking and entertaining – which is why they requested a solution for managing food waste. 
PROJECT NOTES
Solid Tulip wood furniture, painted in Farrow & Ball Mizzle, complimented by a Dekton Natura worktop, Armac Martin handles and InSinkErator Evolution 150 food waste disposal unit. 

*https://wrap.org.uk/media-centre/press-releases/wasting-food-feeds-climate-change-food-waste-action-week-launches-help