Did you know that so-called “flushable” wipes aren’t flushable at all? Branding often likes to suggest otherwise, with claims like “breaks down like toilet paper” or “plumber certified” displayed prominently on the packaging. The truth is, “flushable” wipes clog sewers just like any other trash, causing backups or overflows at wastewater treatment facilities.
If you use disposable cleaning/disinfecting wipes, moist towelettes, baby wipes, personal hygiene wipes or similar disposable or “flushable” products, put them in the trash. NEVER flush them down the toilet. But if so-called flushable material isn’t flushable, how can anyone possibly know what is?
One Simple Guideline: The 3 P’s
If you ever find yourself uncertain as to whether or not an item can be safely flushed, just remember the Three P’s: Poop, Pee, and Toilet Paper!
Our wastewater collection systems are constructed with a very narrow purpose in mind: that these three things can be processed and disposed of efficiently. Anything that can’t break down in liquid, including common bathroom items like wipes, dental floss, or Q-tips, should never go into your toilet. Although it is easy to flush and forget, putting in unintended substances and objects causes blockage, damage, and pollution over time – to both public infrastructure and your own home!
Safely Disposing of Medication
Medications – whether they’re pills or liquids – that you flush down your toilet or pour down the drains pollute waterways, including the San Francisco Bay. Rather than flushing or throwing out your medicine, find a safe medication disposal location.
For more information on wipes, check out the Responsible Flushing Alliance website and the California Association of Sanitation Agency’s Wipes Clog Pipes website.
