Due to an increased demand and subsequent shortages of toilet paper as a result of COVID-19, we have heard of the increased use and flushing of non-flushable materials such as baby wipes, napkins and paper towels. We encourage you to remind your community members to pay extra attention to what they are flushing and not to flush anything other than toilet paper.
Flushing anything other than toilet paper can create expensive problems for homeowners and municipal wastewater facilities. Flushing wipes (even those labeled “flushable”) and other non-toilet paper materials causes clogs, backups, equipment and pipe breakages, and in bad cases, can even force raw sewage back into homes. For municipal facilities, the cost to repair these damages is unfortunately borne by the public.
Properly addressing this issue requires everyone to be extra mindful, especially in the days and weeks ahead, but also beyond the containment of COVID-19. As a reminder, the following products are NOT flushable and must be disposed of in a waste basket:
- Paper towels
- Napkins
- Kleenex and other tissues
- Wet wipes/baby wipes (even those labeled as “flushable”)
- Diapers
- Feminine hygiene products
- Gauze/Band-Aids
If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to environmental attorney Gretel Lee at gllee@flaherty-hood.com.