Bag it and bin it - don't flush it
did you know?
- A staggering 300 million items of sanitary waste are flushed down Scottish toilets every year.
- The waste water drain which runs from your house is just 4 inches wide, and it's only designed for human waste and toilet roll.
- Sanitary waste can cause blockages and damage screens that are used to filter out waste and these can escape to pollute our rivers and beaches. This not only causes a health hazard, it harms the local wildlife and is awful to look at.
what can be flushed:
Human waste
Toilet paper (not too much and not the moist, extra strong type)
never flush:
Sanitary items - towels, tampons, applicators, panty liners, backing strips, etc
Disposable nappies, liners and baby wipes
All wipes, including baby, bathroom and toilet
Incontinence pads
Condoms and femidoms
Cotton buds and cotton wool
Razors and toothbrushes
Contact lenses
Colostomy bags and incontinence pads
Used bandages and plasters
Syringes and needles
Medicines
the best way to dispose of personal items:
- Sanitary towels, tampons and panty liners - bag it and bin it.
- Condoms, incontinence pads and used bandages and plasters - bag it and bin it.
- Disposable nappies, liners and all wipes - bag it and bin it.
- Razor blades - in a solid container and bin it.
- Take syringes and needles to a needle bank (ask your GP where your nearest is located).
- Return medicines and contraceptives to your local pharmacy.
how is Scottish Water helping?
We are committed to tacking the problem caused by waste. We are investing millions of pounds on upgrading and building new waste water treatment works and systems. This investment programme will take years to complete and even then you should always bag it and bin it.
help us to help you
You can make a difference. By doing a little you can help a lot. Just bag it and bin it and you won't meet your waste again. Do your bit to help protect your natural environment.
For further information click on the right to view/download a copy of our bag it and bin it leaflet (pdf).
