Abstract: An intelligently controllable food waste disposal system and method are provided. A food waste disposal machine has operational components adapted to assist in the disposal of food waste. A programmable logic controller (PLC) is in data communication with the operational components and configured to control operation of the operational components. A minicomputer is connected to the PLC and adapted to write PLC instructions to the PLC. A network connection is in data communication with both the minicomputer and an analytics cloud. The minicomputer receives data from the analytics cloud and transfers PLC instructions corresponding to the received data to the PLC to thereby alter the operational control of the operational components of the food waste disposal machine via the PLC. The PLC controls the operational components via a default operational program written into the PLC when the PLC detects that the minicomputer is not in communication with the PLC.