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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think plastic applicators for Tampax are disgraceful and unjustifiable?

370 replies

appropriatelytrained · 19/10/2011 10:17

I sent DH to buy me a pack of tampons recently from the local shop. He came back with Tampax Compak (the only choice).

I'm no green activist, but I was shocked to see non-biodegradable, non-recyclable plastic applicators used for this product.

It seems to me that applicators are generally pretty unnecessary but to make them out of plastic just for convenience and comfort (Tampax's response to my query) makes them an unjustifiable vanity product.

Churning out plastic applicators for no genuine purpose when the company know (despite what they may say) that these products will end up flushed down the toilet, is disgraceful.

Right, I'll get off my soap box. I don't post here usually but I just felt really angered by this when so many companies are trying very hard to change the necessary packaging of their products, this company is producing unnecessary packaging without thought of consequence.

OP posts:
SarahLundsredJumper · 19/10/2011 19:11

They didnt have toys at all - what with being eco warriors and all that I had them working age 2 to knit the yogurt and also they had to plough the fields and slaughter the goats - no time for toysHmm

thefirstMrsDeVeerie · 19/10/2011 19:12

I asked you a civil question Sarah so no need for the Hmm

SarahLundsredJumper · 19/10/2011 19:13

BollocksGrin

microfight · 19/10/2011 19:14

Sorry Sarah I was definitely not having a go at you or anyone. I was generally stating that tampons are one very small part of the plastics story. I bet many of the people on here saying how terrible it is to use plastic applicators regularly buy plastic toys for their kids or fill party bags with plastic tat! I just think the massive focus on plastic bags overlooks the real problem of over packaging and the actual buying plastic goods like slides and kids kitchens etc.

SarahLundsredJumper · 19/10/2011 19:14

and you know it !

TheVampireEmpusa · 19/10/2011 19:15

"If you are too squeamish"

You know you could actually try to read the thread, and the reasons people have given for using applicators. So far the only people I've seen talking about being too "squeamish" are the ones who don't use the applicators.

thefirstMrsDeVeerie · 19/10/2011 19:15

No its not. I was genuinelly asking you if your kids never had plastic toys.

I am not always a sarky cow.

SarahLundsredJumper · 19/10/2011 19:15

OK thanks micro surely one small thing done on a large scale makes a difference though.

microfight · 19/10/2011 19:16

But Aries it's not just tampon applicators that end up in the sea. All sorts of plastic ends up in the sea, do you buy any other type of plastic? If you do why focus only on tampons?

microfight · 19/10/2011 19:19

Yes Sarah I think one small thing is great but it is just when people (not you) get so self righteous about the one small thing when they are using/buying/disposing of huge amounts in other areas of their life. Why get so uppity amount tampon applicators when they buy a massive trampoline for their kids?

Ariesgirl · 19/10/2011 19:21

Because that's what people flush down the toilet must often and is the most easily preventable of course! Where do people imagine they end up if you try and stuff them down the bog. I know there is a massive problem with all sorts of plastic - but this is something that we can do something about very easily by just taking a few seconds more to deal with something. I do not focus only on tampons, as you say - in RL I focus on all sorts of plastic. It's part of my job. This is thread is about tampons though.

wonkylegs · 19/10/2011 19:22

I have wonderful limited dexterity due to having arthritis in my fingers and everywhere else I can use the compak ones but find it very difficult to use regular tampax ,and don't seem to get on with the cardboard ones (my poor grip tends to mangle them) what did I do before? Used towels which constantly leaked Blush and were uncomfortable.
I'm glad that they brought a product along that made it easy for me to live comfortably and without embarrassment and I won't apologise for there use altho I hope they will move on to a biodegradable plastic at somepoint.
I have never flushed the applicators nor the tampons down the loo , they always go in the bin
I did use biodegradable nappies for DS so I do understand the problem but believe if you want uptake of green solutions by the mass population (which is what we should aim for surely) the products need to be as good or better than regular versions... Tampons and their replacement products aren't there yet!

FabbyChic · 19/10/2011 19:22

Ive always flushed tampons and sanitary towels. I just shred the towel in half. Been six months since Ive had a period though, but have the plastic applicator ones on standby in case one appears.

They are a great invention. I couldnt use the cardboard ones they used to get stuck and I'd waste loads of tampons trying to insert.

I used the non applicator ones when I was young, but as others I can't insert far enough so it doesnt work as half of it is sticking out since I gave birth.

And I don't have a penis in me thanks.

SarahLundsredJumper · 19/10/2011 19:23

Fair enough I suppose - I dont know anyone in RL who I would even suspect uses a mooncup and I doubt they would even think I did .
Not sure what a Mooncup user would look like though- I certainly dont plait my own armpit hair Grin

shineynewthings · 19/10/2011 19:26

They are totally wrong YANBU. I'm horrified to think that millions of these things are being flushed down the loo and into our rivers and seas. I personally use towels, not sure they're much more environmentally better though.

Ariesgirl · 19/10/2011 19:27

Fabby with respect, do you know about the damage that even tiny shreds - actually especially tiny shreds of of plastic does to the foodchain? Which you are your children are part of? I'm really really not being sanctimonious here - it's something that is fact but lots of people aren't aware of. A sanitary towel bobbing around whole in the sea is horrible and unsightly, but shredded is worse. And that goes for all plastic, including degradable plastic. Sorry, but it's true :(

bemybebe · 19/10/2011 19:30

Don't anybody fucking dare flushing their towels down my loo. I will find you and you will be paying for the complete jet flush of the house drains. That will teach ya!

BeyondLimitsOfTheLivingDead · 19/10/2011 19:30

I dont flush, but AIBU to be under the impression that sewage isnt pumped straight into the sea? I thought it went to water cleaning facility things? [hconfused]

slightlymad72 · 19/10/2011 19:35

I use towels and tampons, its the only way I can manage more than 30 minutes away from the toilet during the day and have 3 hours sleep at night.

What I put up my fanjo is my personal choice, I have found a product that I can use which is comfortable and can give me some quality of life for the 3 days a month that I am housebound.

Products that are flushed down the toilet travel down the sewage system into water treatment works, where they have big screens that clear out debris that is large than about 6mm. these screens are then scraped and the debris is squashed and all the water is removed. the dry product is then either incinerated or placed into landfill. The same as if you binned them.

If anyone would like a more detailed account of what happens after you flush then DH would be most willing to inform you,(he works with it everyday) he can probably even tell you how much of your feacal matter is used as fertiliser.

microfight · 19/10/2011 19:40

Thank you slightlymad, I was about to write this myself but you have done a better job than I would have.

And Aries this thread is not about tampons it's about plastic applicators hence my post!

YouHaveToCallMeNighthawk · 19/10/2011 19:44

I use non-applicator tampons and I'm all ears for this method the OP has for popping them in without a finger?? Do tell!

Towels are horrible. Disposable or not. The huge pants you have to wear! That squelchy, dripping feeling going on all day! Yuck!

Come on though, do we really have to save the environment while we're on our periods? It's just not the time is it really?

Ariesgirl · 19/10/2011 19:44

Beyondthelimits, ordinarily and in principle the sanitary products and everything else do go to the sewage treatment works. However in times of heavy rain i.e. quite often, the sewage system can't cope, and they have to open the emergency sluices which means raw sewage is pumped straight into the sea, onto beaches and into rivers. Look on Surfers Against Sewage's website. SAS operated a warning system this summer to warn beach users not to go on certain beaches after heavy rain.

Ariesgirl · 19/10/2011 19:45

Micro I know and appreciate this thread was about the plastic applicators, but I think it's worth pointing out wherever possible that shouldn't flush any of this stuff down the loo.

Which I realise contradicts a little what I said a couple of posts back :)

thefirstMrsDeVeerie · 19/10/2011 19:48

HOW do you flush plastic down the loo? Surely they would bob about?

lesley33 · 19/10/2011 19:50

As I said a few pages ago, I have tried using non applicator tampons. My fingers are about half the length of the cardboard in the applicator ones. With my fingers I just can't get the tampon far enough up so I am really aware of it and it feels uncomfortable. I agree about how plastic applicators shouldnt be used.