It's clear that many council members were baffled by the public's harsh response.

Several council members were annoyed that city staff hadn't provided them more information. Mayor Charles Meeker blamed the media for inaccurately reporting the issue. Councilman Rodger Koopman chastised residents for their unwillingness to sacrifice during a time of war.

None of these responses gets at the real reason for the backlash.

While some Raleighites may truly love their garbage disposals, most were upset with the way the ban was enacted.

There was no public hearing, and almost no discussion among council members about the logic of adopting an ordinance that few other cities currently have.

The council ended up sending the ordinance to a subcommittee, something it did not do when originally presented with it two weeks earlier.

By passing the ban quickly and quietly, the council provided ammunition to critics who accuse it of wanting to regulate every aspect of Raleigh life.

If anything, the disposal flap was further proof that it's up to the voters to decide when an issue is trivial.