Question:How can leftover shevi’is produce be disposed of? And how should I wash up crockery or cutlery that contains shemittah food remains? Discussion: Produce that grows in Eretz Yisroel during shemittah is subject to kedushas shevi’is. One of the dinim that apply to Shemittah produce is that it cannot be put in a place that will render the produce repulsive to eat, e.g. inside a dustbin (Mishpetei Eretz Perek 21 Se’if 2, based on the Gemoro in Chullin 71). Therefore, food remains that have kedushas shevi’is cannot be directly placed into a regular dustbin. Instead, food remains should ideally be placed into a plastic bag and left in a designated “shemittah bin” until they begin to decay (Chazon Ish Shevi’is Siman 14). At this stage they can be disposed of normally. Those placing shemittah food remains in a “shemittah bin” should ensure to separate the different batches of food remains that are placed inside the “shemittah bin” so that one batch of food remains will not affect another batch of food remains and cause them to spoil faster. Common practice is to place a sheet of paper between different “batches” of food remains, to prevent contact between batches. Alternatively, one can place food remains inside a sealed plastic bag, and then inside the “shemittah bin” so that there will be no contact between different batches of food remains. It is also acceptable to place food remains inside a sealed plastic bag and place the plastic bag inside a regular dustbin – without waiting for the food remains to decay (Rav Wosner ruled this way in a situation of necessity. Rav Chaim Kanievsky is also quoted as saying that this method of disposing of shemittah produce suffices – c.f. Peiros Shevi’is Perek 19 footnote 1). Peels – the same applies to peels that are still edible (e.g. apple peels), or if some of the fruit or vegetable is stuck to the peel (Chazon Ish ibid, Mishpetei Eretz Perek 23 Se’if 2). However, peels, pips or stones that are inedible (based on current norms) may be disposed of normally, provided that none of the fruit or vegetable itself is stuck to the peel or stone (Chazon Ish ibid, who proves that if the current norms change, the status of certain foods or food components will change accordingly). Summary: Shemittah produce cannot be put in a place that will render the produce repulsive to eat, e.g. inside of a dustbin. Therefore, food remains should ideally be placed into a plastic bag and left in a designated “shemittah bin” until they begin to decay. It is also acceptable to place food remains inside a sealed plastic bag and place the plastic bag inside a regular dustbin, without waiting for the food remains to decay. The same applies to peels that are still edible (e.g. apple peels), or if some of the fruit or vegetable is stuck to the peel. However, peels, pips or stones that are inedible (based on current norms) may be disposed of normally, provided that none of the fruit or vegetable itself is stuck to the peel or stone. One can wash up dishes and cutlery that contain insignificant remains of shemittah produce normally, even though some shemittah remains will inevitably be washed away during the washing up. |
Shemitta
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