Don’t flush wipes down your toilet – even if the package says it is a flushable product!
Cleaning wipes have become more popular during the COVID-19 pandemic, but while some of these products may be labeled as “flushable,” they should always be properly disposed of in the garbage. Flushing these items can result in clogged sewers and damaged sewage pumping equipment, and even cause raw sewage to overflow into the environment. Feeling bamboozled? You’re not alone — there are currently no regulations to specify which products can be labelled “flushable.”
Medications cause their own unique challenge, as they are difficult to fully remove at wastewater treatment plants and may end up in the environment, where they are harmful to aquatic life.
Throw them in the garbage:
- Paper towels
- Wipes
- Dental floss
- Hair
- Condoms
- Tampons and applicators
Take them back to the pharmacy:
- Medications
- Vitamins and supplements
Flushing these items can be expensive — it costs Metro Vancouver and your local municipality hundreds of thousands of dollars every year to unclog regional pump stations and replace damaged equipment.
If you’re passionate about a clean environment and an efficient system, you can find more educational resources on this issue at www.unflushables.ca.
