The UK’s sewerage systems are buckling under the weight of an unprecedented amount of inappropriate waste. Too many people are flushing the wrong things down their toilet and forgetting about them — oblivious to the harm these items are having on both the sewers and the environment.
Flushing general rubbish away causes some serious issues to septic tanks, water treatment centres and the environment. There’s also the issue of your own drains to think about, which can become blocked and damaged over time.
The only thing going down your toilet should be waste and tissue paper. Unfortunately, wastewater workers are increasingly having to deal with the following items.
1. Cooking fat
Cooking fat is notoriously difficult to dispose of. When it’s in its liquid form, a lot of people take the easy way out and either pour it down the kitchen sink or flush it away in their toilet. However, when the fat solidifies, it hardens — causing “fatbergs” that can bring entire sewerage systems to a standstill.
2. Wet wipes
While there are some wet wipe brands that claim their products are safe for flushing, most water companies warn against it. Wipes cause serious sewer blockages all the time, and they can also cause serious environmental issues if they find their way into watercourses and oceans. Dispose of ALL wet wipes with your rubbish — preferably in a recycling bin.
3. Cotton balls and buds
Cotton tends to clump together and stick to just about any type of surface when it gets wet. This can cause serious drain blockages, damage and leaks — causing public health and environmental issues. Always dispose of cotton balls and buds in the bin.
4. Condoms
Condoms don’t break down, and can remain in sewers indefinitely. They get stuck, and often fill with air, which can exacerbate blockages.
5. Nappies
Despite the fact that it’s very difficult to flush a nappy down a domestic toilet, people still manage the feat every day. Nappies are designed to absorb water, and when they do, they can swell in size and become a cause of serious blockages.
6. Medication
Certain medications can cause serious environmental issues, particularly when they end up in rivers and lakes. Medicines can react with other substances to create toxic compounds that can ruin natural habitats and kill wildlife. If you have unused medication, return it to your doctor’s surgery.
7. Paper towels
Unlike toilet tissue, paper towels aren’t designed to break up in water — in fact, it’s quite the opposite. Kitchen roll, for example, is designed to remain strong when wet. And absorbent paper can swell to three times its original size, causing major blockages in sewage drains.
8. Cigarettes
Cigarettes are loaded with potentially harmful toxins, many of which can affect wildlife and water-based habitats. And to use an entire flush for one cigarette is a profligate use of water.
9. Dental floss
Dental floss is incredibly strong, and it doesn’t degrade over time. As a result, sewers are full of dental floss, which has the potential to snag in pipes and trap other types of waste.
10. Paint
Some paints are loaded with toxins, which can kill wildlife and create serious public health issues. Paint and building waste often become part of so-called “fatbergs” — making them even more hazardous.
If everyone follows the simple rule, our sewers — and by extension the wider environment — will be a lot healthier. Only two things should ever be flushed down a toilet: human waste and tissue paper.
