The Truth of What Happens When Sanitary Waste is Flushed: The Environmental and Financial Costs of Flushing Sanitary Products
Many people flush sanitary products, including pads and tampons, down toilets in the UK every day. While it may seem convenient, it can lead to environmental damage and costly infrastructure problems. Sanitary products should never be flushed down toilets – only the three Ps should be flushed: Pee, Poop, and (toilet) Paper.
Proper sanitary waste disposal protects both the environment and your business infrastructure.
Environmental Damage Caused by Flushing Sanitary Products
It may seem like flushing sanitary products makes them disappear, out of sight and out of mind. But this is not the case. Most flushed products will end up in rivers, lakes, and oceans. This may lead to:
- Water pollution
- Harm to aquatic life
- Microplastic contamination
In order to protect our waterways, it is essential to dispose of sanitary waste correctly.
Impact on Sewers
If sanitary products don’t end up in our rivers and oceans, they may stuck in our sewage systems. This can lead to blockages, and in the worst-case scenario, fatbergs – big, solid masses that obstruct our sewers.
Financial Costs
As well as damaging our environment and infrastructure systems, not providing adequate facilities for proper waste disposal can have a detrimental effect on your business.
When visitors flush sanitary products down workplace toilets, it can cause blockages, leaks, and broken facilities. It can be expensive and time-consuming to make the necessary repairs. Providing proper waste disposal solutions prevents problems before they start, saving businesses time and money.
Brand and Reputational Damage
Hygiene standards influence customer trust and employee satisfaction. Customers and visitors may feel uncomfortable and be less likely to return if they are unable to manage menstruation in your company bathrooms. Poorly managed washrooms can:
- Make visitors uncomfortable
- Reduce repeat visits
- Damage brand perception
Hygiene standards are closely linked to brand trust and the way that customers perceive your brand. To ensure repeat visits and positive brand image, make sure your washrooms are clean and well-maintained, with the correct facilities.
Myth-Busting: “Flushable” Products
It is a widespread myth that some products including tampons, sanitary pads, and even wet wipes can be flushed down toilets. This is, in part, because some of these products are marketed as “flushable”. However, none of these products can ever be safely flushed. Most period products contain plastic that does not break down safely in sewer systems. Even products marked as 100% biodegradable or 100% cotton are still not safe to flush. These products are purposely designed to absorb water. Therefore, they continue absorbing water and expanding in the pipework. If you are ever unsure, always remember the three Ps – Pee, Poop, and (toilet) Paper.
The Solution: Sanitary Disposal Units
All businesses have washrooms, many that are open to customers or visitors. Therefore, every business plays a key role in preventing the flushing of sanitary products.
The easiest way to ensure correct disposal in your business is by providing hygienic, serviced sanitary bins. Ideally every toilet cubicle in your washroom should contain a sanitary bin. And it’s not just the presence of a bin that is important. No one likes to use a washroom with overflowing or smelly bins. It is important to ensure you have a regularly scheduled service set up with a qualified provider. Specialists in the disposal of sanitary waste, such as Cathedral Hygiene, handle waste safely, provide the necessary documentation, and give businesses the confidence that bins remain clean and odour-free.
Educating Employees and Visitors
Awareness plays a key role. Businesses should encourage employees, customers, and visitors to dispose of waste properly and educate them about how poor waste habits can harm the environment.
Some may have concerns about whether the bins themselves are a hygienic solution. However, with a consistent service schedule, there is nothing to worry about. At Cathedral Hygiene, every unit has a specially treated scented liner, to minimise any unpleasant odours. This is replaced fully each time we service. We clean and deodorise all units within the toilet areas on site and take the bags of waste away to dispose of them for you. This causes minimum disruption to your business and ensures the units remain in excellent condition. For further reassurance, providing clear signage, such as posters to display what the bins are for, can help ensure the bins always remain hygienic.
Help Protect Our Waterways and Your Business
Flushing sanitary products can cause serious environmental, infrastructure, and financial problems. Sanitary products such as tampons and pads should always be disposed of in a sanitary bin and never be flushed down the toilet. By improving awareness and providing the proper facilities, businesses can help protect our waterways and minimise their environmental impact.
At Cathedral Hygiene, we make sanitary disposal simple. Our discreet, hygienic disposal solutions help prevent blockages and protect the environment.
Explore our range of discreet sanitary disposal bins or speak to one of our friendly team members today to take the first step toward a cleaner, more sustainable future.
