Is it flushable or disposable?

Many products advertised as flushable/disposable may take several weeks to months to degrade and wind up clogging pipes and pumps, causing backups into streets, businesses and homes.

Using the toilet for disposal of many products will often result in blockages.  The drains that connect a home to the main sewer line are only big enough to carry water, toilet paper and human waste.

Also, human waste is made up of bacteria and other microscopic organisms.  Pharmaceutical products and products containing chemical agents of any sort, when flushed down the toilet are detrimental to organisms at the treatment plant and receiving waters.

For more information about pharmaceutical disposal, please follow this link.

What not to flush
Get to know those materials that degrade our wastewater systems.

  • Diapers (cloth, disposable, “flushable”)
  • Facial tissues
  • Baby wipes, disinfectant wipes, moist wipes, etc.
  • Toilet bowl scrub pads
  • Swiffer or other mopping/floor care pads
  • Napkins (paper or cloth), paper towels
  • Dental floss
  • Egg shells, nutshells, and coffee grounds
  • Fats, oils, and greases
  • Food items containing seeds and peelings
  • Hair
  • Sanitary napkins, tampons, condoms, or any non-organic material
  • Vitamins, medicines or other pharmaceuticals
  • Wash cloths, towels, rags (any cloth item)
  • Clothing
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