While "flushable" wipes may actually be "flushable", these products do not breakdown in the system like toilet paper is designed to do. Instead, after being flushed they can become caught on pipe extrusions or other materials already lodged in a pipe. The result can be backups in your house and neighboring homes.

The wipes and rags that make it to our wastewater treatment facilities also cause problems by damaging pumps. Repairs can cost into the thousands of dollars. What's more, MUB staff must physically remove clogs and repair equipment damaged by rags and wipes. This creates unnecessarily exposure to very real health threats.

Things that should be tossed in the trash and NOT flushed include...

  • "Flushable" Wipes: These do not breakdown and often cause backups and damage equipment.
  • Tissue paper/Kleenex: These products are not designed to breakdown like toilet paper. Under no circumstances should these be flushed.
  • Cleaning/Disinfecting Wipes: These items are designed not to tear or rip. Please toss these in the trash. Their potential to cause a clog is extremely high.
  • Food: Nope. Never.
  • Hair: Hair can become entangled with other materials within a sewage system and bind them together. This can make a clog even more problematic.
  • Pills and Medications: Our wastewater treatment plants do not remove medications prior to discharge. What you put down the toilet or drain goes directly to our waterways.
  • Cotton Buds: No cotton products should be flushed, period.
  • Menstrual Product: By design, these products absorb wastewater and expand. The threat this poses to a sewage system is obvious. Also, applicators litter our system and must be manually removed.
  • Condoms: Given that condoms do not disintegrate, the issues they pose is obvious.
  • Cigarette Butts: This is another item that does not easily breakdown and can lead to clogs.
  • Diapers: Diapers not only expand when wet but their size alone poses a significant risk of causing a clog.
  • Dental Floss: Floss wraps its way around material not only binding it but actually enhancing the strength of a clog.
  • Napkins and Paper Towels: These items are designed not to break apart. Flushing these products is all but asking for a clog.
  • Cleaning Products: Never dispose of cleaning products in the toilet or by pouring them down a drain. A good way to rid yourself of these products is to attend our annual Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day! Your trash collector may also offer suggesitons for disposing of such porducts.

The only things that should be flushed down a toilet are...

  • Human waste
  • Toilet paper
  • Vomit

It's critical that we all work together to protect our wastewater system. What you do not only impacts your household but our neighbors as well. This includes our wastewater system and the staff that maintain our system.