To think that we need to stop flushing anything down the toilet except for toilet paper.

[WishILivedInThrushGreen]

metro.co.uk/2022/06/16/calls-for-mandatory-do-not-flush-labelling-on-wet-wipes-16840997/

Wipes are often described as biodegradable but they don't biodegrade in the sewer. They biodegrade in landfill over a long period of time.

I really welcome Yorkshire's stance on this and it would be hoped that all councils and water companies will clamp down on the use of them.

There needs to be better labelling on packs of wet wipes and a shift away from using them, particularly as many contain micro plastics that leach into waterways.

If you need to use them then put them in a bin so that councils can incinerate or bury them where they can decompose.

Honestly can't understand how it's possible to flush a nappy? Surely it's too big for the pipe?

Why on earth would she think that was right? I hope you don't still do that, it's so stupid.

Who on earth would think it's ok to flush sanitary towels!! Use your eyes look at them and your toilet. FFS. The tampon thing I understand a bit more as they are smaller, and as PP I was told at school they could be flushed and that was a benefit over towels. Have known for several decades this is not the case though.
Quilted toilet paper isn't great either, especially if you live in an area with an older drainage system

I don't and I only use 2 ply toilet roll as I don't want to block the bog.

Well stop it. You know it's wrong now.

Honestly I don't care.

I think wipes can be marketed as 'flushable' if they'll go round the U bend. Most wipes will stay whole (unlike toilet paper that quickly disintegrates when wet), so they can collect with cold fats (don't put those down the sink/drains either) and create fat bergs. These block the sewers, causing them to back up and can cause raw sewage to tip out of storm overflows polluting your nearest river/sea.

If your wipe breaks down like toilet paper in water they're probably ok to flush, if not. Put them in the bin!

The Fine to Flush ones are endorsed by the water boards.
www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/17353494.thames-water-says-fine-flush-wet-wipes-will-fight-fatbergs/

www.yorkshirewater.com/news-media/news-articles/2020/yorkshire-water-applauds-andrex-fine-to-flush-certification/

www.water.org.uk/policy-topics/managing-sewage-and-drainage/fine-to-flush/

You want rivers to be polluted with sewage do you?

It doesn't cross into mind. I literally don't care. I'm being honest

I remember my mother ripping pads in half and flushing them down the toilet 30 years ago. I don't know how there were never any blockages.

remember being told to tear a sanitary towel in half and flush it! No longer do this but I do flush tampons and wipes and never had any issues.

The only things that should go down the loo are
Pee
Poo
Paper (only toilet paper, not paper towels)
Puke

I have worked for a water and sewerage company and been to more sewage treatment works than I care to mention.

If the non flushable items reach the works without blocking the system up they have to be removed by someone manually clearing the screens at the inlet.

Also judge away for the tampon thing but when your period is so heavy you have to actually remove them when sat on the toilet and let them go as they are absolutely dripping (sorry tmi) you may understand how hard it would be to try and place them in a plastic bag which is probably rubbish for the environment anyway.

DH insists on flushing his hair down the loo when he uses the trimmer. It always floats for ages. Drives me mad.

All wipes should be banned. Full stop. Just use a cloth for cleaning/disinfecting/removing make up etc etc and then wash it. Lazy fuckers use wipes.

It was what happened though, I was also told to either flush tampons or tear the pad in two and flush, I can't recall anyone having a bathroom bin in the 80's

I was thinking how to phrase this. Mine are so heavy it's like a little first aid procedure at the loo.

When my DP moved in with me 4 years ago, he insisted on using the Andrex wipes and claimed they were flushable. I asked him so many times not to use/flush them after seeing footage of these 'fatbergs' in sewers on TV etc. He said he wanted to feel clean. Soon after, I noticed the neighbours two doors down had a company in to clear their drains. Didn't think much of it. Only when I'd seen this company come out every other day for two or three weeks did I start to wonder if it was my partner's use of the wipes which was causing them to have blocked drains.

I asked DP again to temporarily pause his use of them and told him what I'd noticed. He did stop buying them and I didn't see this drain unblocking company for ages. DP insisted it was coincidence and started using the wipes again. Within days, the drain company was back, pumping out a drain or sewer.

I put a blanket ban on the use of wipes at that time, telling DP if they eventually tracked it back to our house then technically we could be billed for the unblocking. He hasn't used the wipes since and not once have I seen the drain unblocking company here since.

Just because the packets say they are flushable doesn't mean they biodegrade quickly. I don't believe there is such thing as a flushable toilet wipe and I don't care if these companies claim they are. They ALL contribute to blocking the sewers and it's a human being - somebody's dad, brother, son, sister, mum, whoever - who has to manually remove these fatbergs. I can't think of any task I'd like to do less. It is VILE.

I'm not stupid, in actual fact I think I'm fairly aware. But I flush tampons - should I not be doing this? What fo you do with them instead? I wouldn't dream of flushing a wipe, but...

Surely everyone knows not to flush wipes? The Go Jetters did an episode on it.

I was in a baby changing room at a motorway service station recently (changing my daughter's nappy) and noticed a sign on the wall. I was so utterly baffled I took a photo. TEA BAGS??? Even more bizarrely, there wasn't even a toilet in that room - just a changing table, nappy bin and basin with soap dispenser.

@OneFrenchEgg my sympathies. It can be so hard to manage especially when in pain and feeling sick and dizzy which I do. If the fact I can’t be pestered faffing about with bags etc with my sodden dripping tampon instead of flushing makes me a bad person than so be it!

Use the bag as a glove, nice and neat, no blood on your hand to boot.

@ImplementingTheDennisSystem no tampons shouldn’t be flushed. Bag it and bin it basically. It’s not pleasant when they are dripping but can be down with a wedge of toilet roll in the other hand to catch it.
On past thread, a lot of poster were talking about mooncups as being more environmentally friendly. Wish mooncups had been around for me.
The general rule is if you haven’t digested it, don’t flush it. Bin it.