Can You Flush Tampons – Is It Bad to Do That?

Simply no tampon box will instruct you to flush your used tampon or allow you to recycle them, as you can see by taking a quick look at them.

Tampons can be disposed of in the garbage with their wrapper, and you shouldn’t flush them.

To Flush Or to Throw

In public restrooms where trash bins frequently go without liners, women who prefer flushing their used tampons over throwing them in the trash are typically worried about unpleasant smells coming from the bin, leaving an unpleasant sight, and discretion.

The best way to get rid of our tampons may not be to flush, even though it may seem like the easiest and best option for women and those who clean public restrooms. This is because flushing has a number of negative effects.

Plumbing is the most obvious problem; pads and tampons frequently clog pipes, which not only costs money but also time and a few headaches. Because of this, there are typical signs in public restrooms reminding visitors not to flush anything other than toilet paper.

Why Shouldn’t You Flush Tampons?

Most menstrual products, including tampons, are made of highly absorbent materials. These items get stuck in your plumbing when you flush them because they get tangled in the pipes or become swollen, saturated with liquid, and stuck there.

Blockages may result from this, posing a serious health risk and necessitating expensive repairs. Sewage may also backflow into your home.

They can clog the sewer system in your town if they manage to get past your home plumbing, which could lead to sewage spilling into nearby waterways, basements, and streets.

Tampons and Clogged Toilets

Some women believe you can flush as many tampons down the toilet as you want if you don’t have a septic system. For context, if your home has a septic system, that means the owner of the home is the one who is responsible for maintaining the individual sewer unit. However, if it’s part of a sewer system, it is entirely the government’s responsibility as it is connected to other homes in the neighborhood.

It’s crucial to remember that flushing tampons down the toilet will damage septic systems because they are not made to handle large amounts of sanitary waste. However, flushing your tampons is still not a smart idea even if you are a part of a sewer system.

Even the biodegradable tampons that do eventually break down take much longer to do so than paper, which means it definitely won’t happen while they’re making their way through your pipes or the sewage treatment system.

Tampons, on the other hand, are designed to absorb liquid and expand, working exactly the opposite of what toilet paper does when it is flushed down the toilet.

Tampons are one example of a product that shouldn’t be flushed but can end up clogging your property’s pipes or causing serious problems once they enter our septic system. Wastewater overflows from manholes when sewer pipes back up. Untreated sewage can enter a variety of waterways.

How Should You Dispose of Used Tampons?

The best practice is typically to wrap a used tampon in either toilet paper or facial tissue before throwing it in the trash. For wrapping used menstrual products before disposal, small bags are also sold.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires that used sanitary products, such as tampons, be disposed of in lined trash cans so that the container doesn’t come into contact with the contents.

People shouldn’t come into contact with blood during the routine handling of this waste by throwing it in the outgoing trash.

Menstrual products that have been abandoned are typically not regarded as regulated waste by OSHA. Additionally, it does not believe that, in most cases, the Bloodborne Pathogens standard would be triggered by the presence of used tampons and other menstrual products.

Conclusion

The majority of women’s restrooms have those tiny trash cans for a good reason. Take your tampon, wrap it, and throw it away there immediately. That’s how easy it is. If necessary, use the tip of your finger to remove the item from the tiny trash can because, let’s face it, it’s kind of gross.

There are other options, such as period panties (Thinx makes some), or a menstrual cup, if you don’t think you can stop flushing those tampons (or if you want to contribute even less waste to the environment). Since both items are reusable, you don’t even need to second guess your decision to save the environment by recycling one used tampon at a time.

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