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GE Disposall Green 1/2 HP vs GE GFC1020N 1 HP Garbage Disposal Side-by-Side Comparison

By , , and ·Updated

GE Disposall Green 1/2 HP Garbage Disposal

GE GFC1020N 1 HP

$148.5 from Amazon
GE Disposall Green 1/2 HP vs GE GFC1020N 1 HP Garbage Disposal

Overall Verdict

The GE Disposal Green 1/2 HP is one of the best small garbage disposals we’ve ever tested. In performance evaluation, it even shocked us by delivering results akin to that of a stronger model; in fact, it managed to outperform at least four other stronger and more expensive models. However, the GE GFC1020N 1 HP is not one of them.

The GE GFC1020N is the second-best full-horsepower garbage disposal in our lineup. Although it has the look of a generic plastic-case garbage disposal, its grinding components are improved compared to similar models (from Waste King, for example). Specifically, the two impellers are larger and thicker than what you usually see on the market and the grater ring has two layers of cutters. As a result, the rate of breakage improves.

Comparing the numbers, the Disposall Green is obviously the less capable one here. With a high-speed but much weaker motor and a basic grinder design, the disposal can’t help but score lower on our standardized tests. That said, for a compact disposal unit, the Disposall Green’s grinding power is nothing if not impressive as it deals with raw chicken bones like a 3/4-hp or 1-hp model.

In terms of builds, both are cost-effective products with solid craftsmanship. They both use stainless steel grinding components and they both run on efficient permanent magnet motors. The key difference here is their sizes and how much you cook at home. We recommend either of them, especially if you can pick them up on sale.

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Pros & Cons

  • High capacity
  • Stainless steel grinding components
  • High-speed motor
  • Affordable
  • Noise reduction
  • High torque 
  • High speed 
  • Stainless steel grind components
  • Strengthened chamber layout
  • No noise/vibration insulation
  • Heavy build
  • Space-consuming design
  • Can be loud
  • No power cord

Key Specs

Type of feed
Continuous
Continuous
Horsepower
3/4
1
Motor type
Induction
Permanent magnet
Averaged RPM
1478
4149
Family size
3-4 people
5-6 people
Dimensions
L5.2 x W6.3 x H13.3 inches
L5.5 x W8.4 x H16.2 inches

Where to Buy

Price at publication
$116.09
$199.58

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Analysis and Test Results

Performance

Overall Performance Scoring
6.6
7.5

Scrap Mix

6.6
7.9
GE Disposall Green 1/2 HP Scrap Mix Test
12.34 ounces of fish pin bones in mess of assorted scraps from garbage disposal on digital scale on granite-looking top.
15.48 ounces of ground products from garbage disposal, displayed on digital scale, placed on granite-looking table. Mess of assorted scraps, including fibers, bones, etc.
0.06 ounces of ground products from garbage disposal, displayed on digital scale, placed on granite-looking table. Shredded fish vertebrae and pieces of dietary fiber.
GE GFC1020N Continuous Feed Garbage Disposal Scrap Mix Test
6.67 ounces of ground products from a garbage disposal, displayed on digital scale, placed on a granite-looking table. Visible fish pin bones in mess of assorted scraps.
16.31 ounces of ground products from a garbage disposal, displayed on digital scale, placed on a granite-looking table. Mess of assorted scraps, including fibers, bones, etc.
0.14 ounces of ground products from a garbage disposal, displayed on digital scale, placed on a granite-looking table. Shredded pieces of fish bones and vertebrae.
Input Load
90.0 oz (2551 g)
90.0 oz (2551 g)
Time
2 min 13 sec
2 min
Layer 1
12.3 oz (350 g)
7.7 oz (217 g)
Layer 2
15.5 oz (439 g)
16.3 oz (462 g)
Leftovers
0.1 oz (2 g)
0.1 oz (4 g)

Raw Fish Scraps

5.2
7.7
GE Disposall Green 1/2 HP Raw Fish Scraps Test
7 ounces of ground fish scraps from garbage disposal, displayed on digital scale, placed on granite-looking table. Few pin bones among a mess of raw fibrous tissue.
1.75 ounces of ground fish scraps from garbage disposal, displayed on digital scale, placed on granite-looking table. Mess of assorted shredded bones and raw fibrous tissue.
3.9 ounces of ground fish scraps from a garbage disposal, displayed on digital scale, placed on granite-looking table. Mess of shredded fish backbone and skin.
GE GFC1020N Continuous Feed Garbage Disposal Raw Fish Scraps Test
7.7 ounces of ground fish scraps from garbage disposal, displayed on digital scale, placed on granite-looking table. Visible pin bones among mess of raw fibrous tissue.
3.39 ounces of ground fish scraps from garbage disposal, displayed on digital scale, placed on a granite-looking table. Mess of assorted shredded bones and fibrous tissue.
1.02 ounces of ground fish scraps from garbage disposal, displayed on digital scale, placed on granite-looking table. Fish vertebrae among mess of shredded fish skin.
Input Load
49.4 oz (1400 g)
49.4 oz (1400 g)
Time
3 min
3 min
Layer 1
7.0 oz (198 g)
7.7 oz (218 g)
Layer 2
1.8 oz (50 g)
3.4 oz (96 g)
Leftovers
3.9 oz (111 g)
1.0 oz (29 g)

Raw Chicken Scraps

8.0
6.4
GE Disposall Green 1/2 HP Raw Chicken Scraps Test
0.84 ounces of ground chicken scraps from garbage disposal, displayed on digital scale, placed on granite-looking table. Mess of shredded soft tissue and few pieces of shredded bones.
2.03 ounces of ground chicken scraps from garbage disposal, displayed on digital scale, placed on granite-looking table. Mess of shredded tendons and pieces of shredded bones.
0.04 ounces of ground chicken scraps from a garbage disposal, displayed on digital scale, placed on granite-looking table. Mess of soft tissue and pieces of shredded cartilage.
GE GFC1020N Continuous Feed Garbage Disposal Raw Chicken Scraps Test
1.12 ounces of ground chicken scraps from garbage disposal, displayed on digital scale, placed on granite-looking table. Mess of shredded soft tissue and bones.
2.62 ounces of ground chicken scraps from garbage disposal, displayed on digital scale, placed on granite-looking table. Mess of fibrous soft tissue and shredded bones.
0.48 ounces of ground chicken scraps from garbage disposal, displayed on digital scale, placed on granite-looking table. Mess of soft tissue and crushed cartilage.
Input Load
7.4 oz (210 g)
7.4 oz (210 g)
Time
2 min 30
2 min 18 sec
Layer 1
0.8 oz (24 g)
1.1 oz (32 g)
Layer 2
2.0 oz (58 g)
2.6 oz (74 g)
Leftovers
0.04 oz (1 g)
0.5 oz (14 g)

Design

Overall Design Scoring
8.6
9.5

In the Box

GE Disposall Green 1/2-HP Garbage Disposal with 3-Bolt Mount assembly on top, next to its box, user manual, registration slip, sink stopper, elbow tube, and two sets of flanges and bolts.
GFC1020N, EZ Mount, box, registration slip, instruction slip, user manual, stopper, adapter, tube, gasket, flange, bolts, and wire nuts.

Dimensions

GE Disposall Green 1/2-HP Garbage Disposal food disposer with mount assembly and elbow tube. Dimensions show 6.3-inch width, 13.3-inch height, 4.1-inch depth to dishwasher outlet, 6.9-inch depth to outlet, 5.2-inch distance to elbow tube.
GE GFC1020N, mount assembly, elbow tube, orange sticker. Showing 8.4-inch width, 16.2-inch height, 4.3-inch depth to dishwasher outlet, 7.4-inch depth to outlet, 5.5-inch distance to elbow tube.
Length
5.2" (13.2 cm)
5.5" (14.0 cm)
Width
6.3" (15.9 cm)
8.4" (21.3 cm)
Height
13.3" (33.8 cm)
16.2" (41.1 cm)
Weight
8.4 lbs (3.8 kg)
12.7 lbs (5.8 kg)

Mount Assembly

3-Bolt Mount assembly for garbage disposals placed on white platform. “Disposall” engraving on rim of sink flange. Sink stopper in position.
3-Bolt Mount assembly for garbage disposals placed on white platform. “Disposall” engraving on rim of sink flange. Sink stopper in position.
Parts of 3-Bolts Mount assembly on white platform, including backup flange, mounting ring, snap ring, fiber gasket, stopper, cushion mount, sink flange with “Disposall” engravings, removable sink baffle, lower mounting ring.
EZ Mount assembly for garbage disposals with splash guard on white platform, GE logo and “Disposall” engravings on rim.
EZ Mount assembly for garbage disposals with splash guard on white platform, GE logo and “Disposall” engravings on rim.
Support ring, mounting ring, cushion mount, fiber gasket, rubber gasket, engraved sink flange, stopper, and splash guard.

Grind Chamber

7.5
9.0
Top view into chamber of GE Disposall Green garbage disposal after testing, showing layout of grinding components.
Top view into chamber of GE Disposall Green garbage disposal after testing, showing layout of grinding components.
Grind chamber of GE Disposall Green garbage disposal, showing two-level grinder ring and details on flywheel.
Grind chamber of GE Disposall Green garbage disposal, showing impellers and details of flywheel and grinder ring.
Top view of GE GFC1020N into chamber, showing layout of grinding components, swivel impellers, flywheel, and precutter.
Top view of GE GFC1020N into chamber, showing layout of grinding components, swivel impellers, flywheel, and precutter.
Inside view of GE Disposall GFC1020N, showing details of two-level precutter and flywheel.
Inside view of GE Disposall GFC1020N, showing details of impellers, precutter, and flywheel.
Capacity
30.0 fl oz (887.2 ml)
30.0 fl oz (887.2 ml)
Verticality
6.4" (16.2 cm)
6.8" (17.3 cm)
Flywheel
4.4" (11.2 cm)
4.4" (11.2 cm)
Assembly Material
Stainless steel
Strengthened
Layout
Basic
Stainless steel

Motor

9.0
10
A digital tachometer is showing the measurement of a motor/flywheel of the GE Disposall Green garbage disposal in our speed test. A smartphone is running the timer app.
Horsepower
1/2
1
Speed
2600 RPM
2800 RPM
Real Speed
4615 RPM
4149 RPM
Voltage
115 V
120 V (60 Hz)
Current
4.5 A
7 A
Wattage
518 W
840 W
Heat
n/a
N/A
Reverse
No
No

Power Cord

Bottom view of GE Disposall Green 1/2 HP corded garbage disposal with type-B power cord.
Bottom view of GE GFC1020N non-corded garbage disposal, pre-cut electrical wires, and specification sticker.
Length
34.3" (87.1 cm)
NaN" (NaN cm)
Type
3-prong (B)
n/a

Accessories

Standard outlet/discharge set for garbage disposals on granite-looking top, showing elbow pipe, rubber gasket, flange, bolts.
Standard outlet/discharge set for garbage disposals on granite-looking top, elbow pipe with rubber gasket, flange, and bolts.
Width
3.3" (8.3 cm)
3.3" (8.3 cm)
Length
5.3" (13.3 cm)
5.3" (13.3 cm)
Material
PVC
PVC

Build Quality

9.0
9.5
GE Disposall Green with 3-Bolt Mount assembly on top and outlet/discharge set installed.
GE Disposall GFC1020N with EZ Mount assembly on top, discharge set, and orange sticker.
Noise Reduction
No
Yes
Vibration Reduction
No
No

Usability

Overall Usability Scoring
8.4
7.3

Ease of Use

9.0
8.0

Installation

9.5
7.0

Smooth Operation

8.0
8.0

Unjam Mechanics

0.0
0.0
Inside view of permanent-magnet garbage disposal showing manual unjam mechanics with wooden stick in flywheel’s opening/gap.
Inside view of garbage disposal showing manual unjam mechanics with wooden stick in flywheel’s opening/gap, partially showing details of flywheel and grater/grinder ring.
External
No
No
Auto Unjam
No
No