Trash … If it’s not biodegradable, or recyclable, then what do you do with it? What do you do with all of the half empty bottles of make-up, since the bottle is recyclable, or the old oil in the deep fryer? Another thought: How many times have you flushed old medications down the toilet?
Waste that belongs in the trashcan instead of in the toilet includes medications, cotton swabs, cotton balls, bandage wrappers, dental floss and wipes of any kind (including baby wipes and cleaning cloths). Condoms, too! They go in the trash, along with disposable diapers and women’s personal hygiene items. Anything that isn’t biodegradable should be put in the trashcan instead of the toilet, or recycled when possible.
Flushing the wrong items down the toilet can damage your plumbing, the environment and your wastewater treatment system.
These articles go in the trash:
• Tampons
• Condoms
• Unused medications – place the original containers inside a plastic zip-lock bag before tossing them in the trash
• Cotton swabs
• Cotton balls
• Bandage wrappers
• Wipes of any kind
• Disposable diapers
• Nursing pads
• Mini- or maxi-pads
• Sunblock and other lotions – these should not be washed down the drain
• Nail polish
• Cosmetics
• Pool chemicals
• Medications of any kind – prescription or over-the-counter
• Paint
• Dog or cat waste
• Used oils
• Bug spray
• Cleaners
• Cigarette butts – these are not biodegradable and should not be flushed!
So, what’s the best way of disposing of all of this waste? In the trashcan!
The U.S. EPA has deemed flushing expired medications – otherwise known as PPCPs (pharmaceuticals and personal care products) – in domestic sewage systems as the “least desirable way to dispose of any drug.” According to the EPA, “If you throw your PPCPs down the drain or flush them down the toilet, and if your home is connected to a municipal sewage system, some of the PPCPs would typically be discharged into lakes, rivers, or oceans because most waste water treatment plants are not designed to remove or destroy PPCPs from wastewater.”
There was a report on a septic system in New York near the Taconic State Parkway of a house in which the occupants operated an illegal drug manufacturing operation. So much contaminant was flushed down the house drains that the occupants contaminated their own well and poisoned themselves. That’s a perfect example of “What goes around comes around!”
If you’re concerned about children finding hazardous items in the trash, there are a few things you can do to prevent them from discovering them.
When throwing away liquid medicines, cleaners, or other household liquids, first mix them with used coffee grounds or kitty litter. Also, you can pour Elmer’s glue in a bottle that has prescription pills in it and then secure the lid. Then put them in the trashcan. Also, most pharmacies will dispose of unused or out-of-date medications.
Allow paints to dry out before you toss them. Most cities now have a recycle program for paints and oils.
This rule of thumb should also apply to paint thinners, gasoline and motor oil, among other things. Take them to a chemical station that disposes of them in an eco-friendly way.
Oh, and while we’re on the subject of toilets, here’s one final thought – a child safety warning about toilets: An open toilet can be a drowning hazard to toddlers. Toilet lid locks are available at hardware stores.