TAMPONS ARE *NOT* FLUSHABLE

[SandingWithMyUnshavenLegs]

I cannot believe the number of women nonchalantly stating somewhere on MN that they have always flushed their tampons, and expressing mild, disinterested surprise at the notion this is not okay.

So.

Stop flushing them. They are not flushable.

Cheers.

The only time I fully scrutinised the leaflet was when I first used one. Lots and lots of very strict advice like wash your hands before and after insertion repeated multiplie times, how to avoid TSS, symptoms of it etc etc. Very detailed.

Based on that level of detail, I would have noticed if it said you couldn't flush them as it would have gone against what teachers said and jumped out at me. This would have been early 00s. And I think even if rules/guidance change, we don't take much notice, we just go with what we 'know'.

My DM was also super squeamish about pad disposal. They had to go straight into the outside bin. I remember one time I threw out some old bread that was in a plastic bag, in the kitchen bin. She assumed it was a manky old pad and went absolutely apeshit! Ew, even as a teen I wasn't that gross But it made me want to get onto tampons asap so I could flush them and get her off my case!

Sorry OP. I really do hope the sewage fairies forgive me!

Ok so it’s a new thing for lil-lets to ask us not to flush them. So it’s unsurprising many of us wouldn’t know.

Excellent thread.
Again, as a national of somewhere else, I definitely never learnt to flush tampons as an acceptable means of disposal, not even in the 80s. When living in UK eco retreat in the 90s, people were forever messing up our composting loos by disposing of tampons and sanitary towels. No amount of signage helped ever.

I started my periods in 1982, I flushed until the early 2000's when we were all told not to flush them anymore, I'm surprised people don't know. Not blaming anyone who didn't know, just surprised you didn't. Plenty know and still do it though, that's annoying. I still get an occasional period but I think it's all coming to an end for me now. I have told dd's not the flush though.

I can remember a thread on MN quite a few years ago where people were horrified that some of us put STs and tampons in a bathroom bin. It was almost as bad as having a toilet brush.
That said I was also brought up to flush them, my Dad would be angry if there was any visable period evidence, I wasn't even allowed to keep unused sanpro in the bathroom. It wasn't until I left home that I could put them in the bin.

Just to be clear, my use of “you lot” earlier was most definitely not specific to any age group, just a (I thought ) friendly way of referring to flushers/would be flushers.

@SusannaQueen That sounds very difficult. I hope he was a bit more easy going otherwise!

Yes, all of us over 45ish - maybe 40 - were told the same.

Every now and then someone younger issues a very SHOUTY, bossy public service announcement that they aren’t flushable after all, on MN or Reddit or wherever.

The information is useful, even if the delivery is a bit much. An actual government information campaign would be more efficient, though.

Sorry that was to @Breastfeedingworries

@Sparklfairy In a totally non-snarky way, I was “introduced” to the wonderful world of periods a few years prior to early noughties and was always told they are not flushable.

However, had a bit of an eco-warrior teacher (she suggested we girls might use natural sponge for tampons for example ). In fact I think a lot of this is based on who was giving this information. Teachers, company reps, older sisters, mothers, aunts, friends, cousins, etc.

It just seems so shocking to me. Like finding out lots of people put them down the kitchen sink or something. Maybe not the best example. Just trying to conjure up something to describe my reaction!

I grew up abroad and recall my mum explaining you wrap pads or tampons in toilet paper and either put in a regular bin, or the sanitary bin in a public toilet. I started my periods in 1990 and have never flushed them ever. It never occurred to me that people would!

TBH- Only in the last 2yrs have I put contact lenses in the bin and not down the sink when removing them. It seems obvious now that there might be plastic compounds which don't biodegrade.

@ABitOfAShitShow Oh right, what would you have guessed? (In the context of a tampon box).

@Thoosa I’m glad you think it’s a useful message and the SHOUTINESS made sure it was seen and that in fact it doesn’t go far enough and we need to get the government involved

Warnings on the boxes in huge type (a la cigarette packs) would probably help. After all who ever reads a tampon instruction leaflet after the first time?

@Thoosa

Yes, all of us over 45ish - maybe 40 - were told the same.

Every now and then someone younger issues a very SHOUTY, bossy public service announcement that they aren’t flushable after all, on MN or Reddit or wherever.

The information is useful, even if the delivery is a bit much. An actual government information campaign would be more efficient, though.

That's actually a very good point . It's very obvious that flushing is/was part of the culture/education here. Even if the rules have changed women that learned one way, will probably teach their own daughters in the same way.

I know my daughter won't flush because I don't and I won't allow her to do it either and I'll obviously show her (and she has seen herself) alternative methods of disposal.

An add campaign on telly and in the media (mainstream and SM) will reach far more people and be a lot more efficient. There might be a few die hards , but their numbers will dwindle as our kids grow up with a completely different message.

[quote SandingWithMyUnshavenLegs]@ABitOfAShitShow Oh right, what would you have guessed? (In the context of a tampon box).[/quote]
I thought you said it was from a toilet door - along with the feminine hygiene notice. Are you now saying that symbol is on a box?

Anyway, the things being poured in the bin are not tampon shaped so again, I’d have assumed packaging.

@evilharpy

A more recent one

From their own website.

tampax.co.uk/en-gb/tampon-truths/can-you-flush-tampons/

@ABitOfAShitShow Ah. The box itself. Yes that does tally with the shape. Fair enough.

I think that symbol or a similar version is on tampon boxes but it’s quite small.

No I thought it was pads, not the box. In the context of ‘feminine hygiene products’, not a tampon box.

@ABitOfAShitShow yes, I'm aware that they now tell you not to flush tampons (not that I've used them for years). I posted an older box and some even older instructions to show that they USED to say they were flushable - hence many people being under the impression that it's fine.

@ABitOfAShitShow Right I see. I mean, I’d be the first person to say they should make it clearer! And bigger. And possibly more shouty That’s the problem with symbols; if they are crap, they make matters worse!

I'm 42 and we were defo told to flush them. I don't use them though.

When I see signs that say not to flush feminine hygiene products I assume they mean pads. Though that could be because some girls used to try and flush them when I was in high school and the teachers were forever telling us all off on behalf of the caretaker.

Tbf though the toilets were locked so I don't know when anyone had the time to do it 🤷🏻

[quote evilharpy]@ABitOfAShitShow yes, I'm aware that they now tell you not to flush tampons (not that I've used them for years). I posted an older box and some even older instructions to show that they USED to say they were flushable - hence many people being under the impression that it's fine.[/quote]
I was responding the OP. I’ve literally been arguing the same point as you throughout.

@SandingWithMyUnshavenLegs

E.g.

Lol no wonder no one knows! They're not tampons, they're massive 😂. Looks like you're not allowed to flush books

@soapboxqueen Haha yes had that at my school too. And lots of other pretty gross mayhem in the toilets!