Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Am I being over-senstive or is this quite disgusting?

86 replies

PistachioTiramisu · 24/10/2025 10:07

I had some leftovers from a beef stew - gravy, bits of mushroom and onion, etc. I wanted to dispose of it as the bin men were due so asked DH to take it out when he put the food bin out. He said he would just flush it down the loo!!! I have never, ever heard of anyone suggesting doing this before, and it seems quite disgusting to me. What do you think?

P.S. He did dispose of it properly in the end!

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Ginmonkeyagain · 26/10/2025 10:24

Don't dispose of food in the toilet, you'll cause blockages. They are not designed for it, neither are sewage pipes.

SoMuchBadAdvice · 26/10/2025 10:23

Flakey99 · 25/10/2025 14:05

I often chuck food leftovers down the loo depending on what they are as we have a septic tank.
Uncooked salad veg goes on the compost heap.

I'm really surprised to read of a septic tank owner doing this, presumably you pump annually (as opposed to 3 yearly for normal use)? You can do what you like as you are paying for the privilege.

TeaRoseTallulah · 26/10/2025 10:20

Why can't it go on the bin? I don't have a food bin either.

TheBlueHotel · 26/10/2025 10:20

BrickBiscuit · 25/10/2025 21:02

https://householdblogger.com/can-you-flush-food-down-the-toilet/
Can you see a problem now?

Show quote history

Apart from potential clogging issues which makes sense I don't think they have a very coherent argument. This article says that flushing food may attract vermin or contaminate the water supply if the food is contaminated with E. coli. But human excrement goes down the toilet which is far more likely to contain E. coli bacteria than fresh food, and also to attract vermin. Also attract vermin where?!

TheBlueHotel · 26/10/2025 10:17

Do you think a bit of meat and onions is more disgusting than human poo?

SoMuchBadAdvice · 26/10/2025 10:16

WellMaybeYouShouldntBeLivingHeeeeeeee · 25/10/2025 21:00

Not sure if you've misread my post, or if I'm the one misunderstanding you. But my point was that none of this stuff should be going down the toilet, and it kind of sounds like we agree

Show quote history

I agree that we agree. Does that mean a MN ban for me?

BertieBotts · 25/10/2025 22:21

GreenFriedTomato · 24/10/2025 12:37

To those saying 'never down the loo, I pour it down the sink', What's the difference? I thought both ended up in the same place

Shouldn't put solids down the sink drain either (or liquid fats) - but watery liquid like instant gravy or tomato sauce or soup etc is OK to go down the sink, and I suppose the toilet if you must but the sink seems easier.

I have a food trap thing on the kitchen sink drain, so it will grab bits of stray food left in any liquids I'm trying to pour away and then I can tip them in the bin - toilets don't have this.

If I need to pour something liquidy into the bin I scrunch up some kitchen roll and pour it onto that to absorb it. But for the non-recycling bin we use quite heavy duty bin bags anyway so they rarely leak.

BrickBiscuit · 25/10/2025 21:02

Spleen · 25/10/2025 16:10

It's the best idea to flush, small amounts of food, as it makes the bin smell. Can't see a problem with it and it's certainly not disgusting.

https://householdblogger.com/can-you-flush-food-down-the-toilet/
Can you see a problem now?

Can You Flush Food Down the Toilet? (Read Before Flushing)

Learn about the risks and consequences of flushing food waste down the toilet. Find out why it's not a good idea and what to do instead.

https://householdblogger.com/can-you-flush-food-down-the-toilet/

WellMaybeYouShouldntBeLivingHeeeeeeee · 25/10/2025 21:00

SoMuchBadAdvice · 25/10/2025 00:34

Even sieving doesn't help the effluent plant deal with the organic matter before it is sent back as water for us to drink.

Show quote history

Not sure if you've misread my post, or if I'm the one misunderstanding you. But my point was that none of this stuff should be going down the toilet, and it kind of sounds like we agree

FlyingSolo16 · 25/10/2025 18:52

I flush food sometimes 😅 if I have leftover soup, it goes down. See also: poached egg water with all the grim stringy bits in

Rehoboth · 25/10/2025 18:50

PistachioTiramisu · 24/10/2025 10:07

I had some leftovers from a beef stew - gravy, bits of mushroom and onion, etc. I wanted to dispose of it as the bin men were due so asked DH to take it out when he put the food bin out. He said he would just flush it down the loo!!! I have never, ever heard of anyone suggesting doing this before, and it seems quite disgusting to me. What do you think?

P.S. He did dispose of it properly in the end!

Yoo...just relax and talk to each other

ClareBlue · 25/10/2025 18:50

In the UK 280000 drain and seweage systems have to be unblocked a year due to non 3 Ps being flushed into them at a cost of 100 million a year. You can add another average 150k spent by every local authority on treating for rats coming from the sewerage systems (20 million a year) and add costs for private rat treatment and that's what food waste being flushed costs us. So your little bit of food might be convenient for you to flush but when thousands or millions do it it costs 120 million a year to sort out their laziness, which is what it is.

GoodQueenBess · 25/10/2025 16:14

@Spleen you should not flush any food down the toilet.

Can't see a problem with it Look it up. You should only flush PEE, POO and PAPER
Only flush poo, pee and paper | Water UK

it makes the bin smell What stinks is your selfish attitude.

Spleen · 25/10/2025 16:10

It's the best idea to flush, small amounts of food, as it makes the bin smell. Can't see a problem with it and it's certainly not disgusting.

Alpacajigsaw · 25/10/2025 14:05

My gran used to do this with soup. I never could quite fathom why.

Flakey99 · 25/10/2025 14:05

I often chuck food leftovers down the loo depending on what they are as we have a septic tank.
Uncooked salad veg goes on the compost heap.

Pppppplease · 25/10/2025 14:03

I'd put it down the toilet too, also do this with bowls of leftover cereal.

SoMuchBadAdvice · 25/10/2025 00:34

WellMaybeYouShouldntBeLivingHeeeeeeee · 24/10/2025 15:15

Pour through sieve into kitchen sink. Rinse liquid away. Tip solid bits from sieve into wherever you put food waste.

It’s a really bad idea to blur the boundaries between what goes into the sewers — what the sewer system can safely handle — and other waste destinations.

Show quote history

Even sieving doesn't help the effluent plant deal with the organic matter before it is sent back as water for us to drink.

Bbq1 · 25/10/2025 00:09

Disgusting

Richconstance · 24/10/2025 19:36

I also find it repulsive, when we have soup thats gone bad, I have to get my husband to do this whilst im nowhere to be seen! Don't know why, but i find it extremely gross! 😂

bangalanguk · 24/10/2025 17:15

The local water company came to our school to lead an assembly, they said only 3 things should be flushed down the loo; poo, pee and paper (loo roll) anything else contributes to blockages and fat bergs.

Nannyfannybanny · 24/10/2025 17:14

A lot of people put a lot of fat down their sinks.you are not supposed to put cooked food in the compost bin!

WellMaybeYouShouldntBeLivingHeeeeeeee · 24/10/2025 15:15

poshcrisps · 24/10/2025 13:56

How would you dispose of old soup if it wasn't down the loo? This is quite normal.

Pour through sieve into kitchen sink. Rinse liquid away. Tip solid bits from sieve into wherever you put food waste.

It’s a really bad idea to blur the boundaries between what goes into the sewers — what the sewer system can safely handle — and other waste destinations.

vincettenoir · 24/10/2025 15:04

I would have put in it in the food waste but not fussed about it going in the loo.

Swipe left for the next trending thread