Toilet Paper & Natural Waste Only!
Remember the 3 P’s
There are only a few things that should be flushed, and we have an easy method for remembering them. The 3 P’s. The 3 P’s consist of: pee, poop, and (toilet) paper. And sometimes, but hopefully rarely for most people, the fourth P: puke.
As a side note, human waste and animal waste breaks down differently, so animal waste should be disposed of in trash cans and not the toilet.
Toilets Are Not Trash Cans!
Various items discarded into the toilet lead to clogged pipes. Anything other than natural waste and toilet paper does not disintegrate. Flushable baby wipes don’t break down when flushed in the water as they pass through. Instead, they become stuck further down the pipe line and clog. Although the baby wipes may pass through the household plumbing system, they can go to the Water Reclamation Facility and get stuck in grates, causing issues with machinery. Q-tips and cotton balls clump together in the pipes when thrown in the toilet. Dental floss is double trouble because it clogs the pipes and causes environmental damage. When flushed it creates a net that catches and holds onto other debris. Also, it can wrap around the septic system of your home and burn out the motor. Menstrual products clog because of the absorption from the product when in water. Mentioned above are a few items and their effects when flushed. Below are more items that should never be flushed.
This is a list of common items that should never be flushed. This is meant to be a quick reference but know there are so many more!
- Cotton balls and swabs
- Sanitary napkins
- Mini or maxi pads
- Condoms
- Tampons and applicators
- Cleaning wipes of any kind – sanitary, baby, disinfectant
- Dental floss
- Disposable diapers
- Bandages or gauze
- Automotive fluids
- Paint, solvents, sealants, or thinners
- Unused medications
- Fats, Oils, Grease
- Flushable kitty litter
- Fish for a funeral
- Pet poop
- Cigarette butts
- Contact lenses
- Chemicals of any kind
- T-shirts or rags
- Coffee grinds
- Hair
Keep a waste basket in your bathroom for easy disposal of the items above and more. Do not use your toilet like it is a trash can.
We realize this is considered a gross subject to talk about, but the information is extremely important to keep the sewer system running, while also protecting the environment from harmful chemicals.
For more information about this program, please call (330) 375-2949 or email us at communications@gstephensinc.com