To be surprised that people flush tampons and towels still?

[Pipbin]

So many people seem to fail to see that it's a problem.

This program: www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0419n5m/watermen-a-dirty-business-episode-1 showed why it's a problem.

*I don't flush because it blocks the sewers, not on environmental grounds

Well that makes it ok. As long as the sewers are ok who gives a shit about the environment!*

What I meant was that my primary concern, and reason for posting this, is because of the damage caused to the sewers, rather than the environment. Of course the environmental damage is serious too, but as I said I only use a couple of bags a cycle.

As it happens the most environmentally damaging things you can do are have children and eat meat. I have/do neither. So I'm off to punch the tits off a panda!

I quite agree MrsDeVere there should be educational adverts or some such. As said, it's not just tampons, but baby wipes and cotton buds too.

Until I came to MN, I didn't know of mooncups/similar, I also didn't know that you shouldn't flush tampons.

Fine, I know now, but there will be loads of people who won't know because the information is simply not in people's faces. And when I started using san pro, the advice was to flush. I've not seen anything to update that since.

You go shopping and what you see is the scented disposable stuff. And the OP linked to one TV programme. I so rarely watch TV, and the kind of programme the OP linked would pass me by.

I now use a mooncup. And DD, aged 13, bags up her san pro and bins it, no flushing.

Well, this thread has informed at least ten people, and MNTech knows how many lurkers, so MN is improving Britain's beaches one thread at a time.

I think it would be good if we could do more? I'm not sure what though.

It would make much more sense if companies such as Thames water that spend 12million pounds a year on blockages, maybe invested in TV adverts etc. It may work in the long run as a preventative measure.
Or perhaps schools should teach it as part of the coverage on San-pro.

However, i'm not sure how easy it is to fight companies such as Procter & Gamble (Tampax owners). They will have a great PR team and a massive advertising budget.

I agree that not enough people know about this or that these companies are misleading customers.

Also to anyone that's reading, cooking fat is a big no-no too. Please do not pour it down the sink.

Tampons usually state in the instructions that they are flushable, I flush them and have never seen it as that big of a deal. My mum always flushed hers too but also the wrapper and applicator (something I'll never understand as generally she's quite sensible about these things)

I haven't had a period for five years but until then flushed tampons because the instructions said you could. I always knew not to flush towels and wet wipes or anything other than loo paper and dd doesn't. Never heard of a mooncup until I joined Mnet.

Does it help that we have solar panels, an electric car and are meticulous about recycling.

I didn't realise either; always thought you were meant to flush so they would biodegrade rather than go to landfill. Sounds like they don't biodegrade after all. Will stop flushing ... But won't they just then sit in landfill? Argh ...

I came from a family where menstruation was Not Discussed, and to be honest much of today's attitude to menstrual products is still to pretend they don't exist, which may be the reason for the ignorance.

I haven't used tampons for a few years now but I never knew they weren't flushable. I don't flush towels or baby wipes, but I do flush toddler wipes and toilet wipes as they are sold as being flushable and dispersable.

I really don't think you can get this arsey about it when the product is sold as flushable.

For real dingbatishness, consider my old neighbours who caused the sewers to back up (under my garden, thanks guys) because they rinsed their unwanted pebble dashing down the the drain, where it solidified. Now that's stupid.

Don't flush condoms or paint, either.

Someone above mentioned the Femininewear website I think, they have lots of different cups and they are very helpful if you have any queries about choosing a suitable one:

www.femininewear.co.uk/see-all-menstrual-cups-160-c.asp

There are quite a few companies on the internet who sell RUMPs (reuseable menstrual products), some of them dedicated, some of them sell them alongside washable nappies. There are quite a few Youtubers who post about them as well.

I don't use disposable menstrual products at all as I use a cup and I use washable pads which are so much more comfortable than disposable ones!

A lot of local authorities are trying to get people to cut their landfill waste and this seems an easy thing that will contribute to that aim.

Hang on. Pebble dashing down the drain? When did this happen? Were your neighbours well?!

Sicaq, how come you thought they would biodegrade in the sewers but not in landfill?

After a quick google it suggests a tampon will biodegrade in roughly 6months, which is far too long in a sewer and will cause a blockage. It's much better for them to be in the landfill. Obviously much better again if people feel able to use things such as a moon-cup or washable pads.

Also googled the applicators and they can take 25 years to biodegrade.

Oh Natasha I've been thinking about washable pads. What brand do you use?

Ok, probably a silly question, but if tampons end up on the beach, do poos as well? And if not, why not?

iK8 - so grow up love and bin it
Ok. I will. But only because someone I don't know told me to on mn! Obviously.

In all seriousness finding a used tampon on the beach is disgusting - I agree with other posters that there should be more awareness about such things. Bum wipes and tampons are supposed to be flushable, it says so on the boxes, how are we to know we shouldn't be doing it unless we are informed? We don't all watch these programmes that the OP linked.

www.water.org.uk/home/resources-and-links/bagandbin/what--s-the-problem-

Why does it matter that you don't know us? How is that relevant?

Google Thames Water sewerage blockages for yourself.

I would link but have no idea how to on iPad.

All the information is out there if you do not trust us

Good question Charlotte Collins. poos on the beach would be worse! I imagine they would break up though. Wouldn't they?

Oh clargo stop being so finicky.

I had no idea you werent supposed to flush tampons?!actual wtf.