What Not to Flush – If you’re wondering what you should and shouldn’t flush, here’s a good rule of thumb: Only flush human excrement. When you use the toilet to dispose of things that should go in the trash, you risk clogging your home’s sewer pipes and our sewer lines in the street. In severe cases, clogs can cause sewer back-ups in your home or overflows in the street. It’s important to remember that whatever goes down the toilet can potentially impact the water environment, so if in doubt, trash it!
The two biggest causes of sewer clogs are “flushable” wipes and fats, oil and grease (FOG). Unlike toilet paper, which breaks down quickly in water, wet wipes remain intact and tangle into massive clogs that jam pumps and block pipes. Even those labeled “flushable” should not be flushed. Grease cools as it travels through pipes. Over time, the accumulation of grease can block pipes, and other fatty substances contribute to clogs, so dispose of all fats, oils, and grease in the trash, not down the drain. Wastewater treatment plants aren’t designed to remove pharmaceuticals. Help keep these compounds out of the water environment by disposing of old medications in the trash, but be sure to take precautions recommended by the FDA.
Do Not Flush
o Wipes (even those labeled “flushable”)
o Anything made of plastic
o Aquarium gravel or cat litter
o Cigarette butts
o Disposable toilet brushes
o Grease or oil
o Medications
o Paper towels, rags, and disposable dust towels
o Tampons and sanitary napkins