Only three things should go down your toilet … pee, poo and toilet paper – the 3P’s. Anything else can clog or damage the pipes in your home, business or the municipal sanitary sewer system.
Here’s how to avoid the problem. Do not flush any of the following down your toilet; put them in the garbage instead.
Wipes (all types)
Tampons and sanitary supplies
Condoms
Cotton swabs
Dental floss
Hair
Medication
In addition, don’t flush old medicine down the toilet. They can cause harm to the environment and aquatic wildlife. Most pharmacies will accept these expired products and dispose of them properly for you.
Sink Drains
Warm fats, oils and grease (FOG) poured down the drain will stick to the inside of sewer pipes as they cool and harden. Over time, the grease will build up and can block the entire pipe – both on your sewer lateral and on the municipal sewer system which become subject to back-ups.
What can you do to help? Let the grease cool and harden, then scrape or wipe it, along with any food scraps from trays, plates, pots, pans, utensils, grills, and cooking surfaces, into your garbage.
Commercial operations, including food service establishments, must have grease traps installed to prevent grease from getting into the sewer system.
Household Hazardous Waste
Don’t forget, the following household hazardous wastes should never be flushed down the toilet or put down the drain.
Car and garage products (i.e., antifreeze, motor oil, window washer fluid)
Household cleaning products (i.e., cleaners, bleach, disinfectants)
Paints (including any solvent, remover or glue)
Personal care products (i.e. nail polish remover, perfumes, aftershave)
Pesticides and garden products
