THROW IT AWAY
None of these things break down in the sewer pipes of your home or on the way to the wastewater treatment plant. So what happens when you flush them down the toilet or drain? Since they don't break down, they can tangle and clump together, forming clogs that cause sewage to back up into your home or neighborhood. Defend Your Drains by disposing of these products in the trash (where they belong) before they cause unpleasant and expensive problems.
JUST BECAUSE IT'S FLUSHABLE,
Wipes
Wipes are designed to be stronger than facial tissue or toilet tissue, so they don’t break down in water. This includes baby wipes, bathroom wipes, facial or cosmetic wipes, personal hygiene wipes, disinfecting wipes, floor cleaning or dusting wipes and toilet bowl scrub pads.
Defend Your Drains
Wipes should always be thrown directly into the trash.
Feminine Hygiene
Feminine hygiene products, such as sanitary napkins and tampons, are made of fibers like cotton and rayon. They are designed to absorb liquids instead of breaking down like toilet paper. These products can easily result in a clogged sewer line.
Defend Your Drains
Wrap used products in toilet tissue, then put them in the trash.
Paper Towels
Paper towels are designed to be absorbent and strong, and specifically not to break down in water. They are not intended to be flushed down the toilet.
Defend Your Drains
Throw used paper towels in the trash – or switch to cloth, which can be washed and reused.
Personal Care
While it's possible to flush things like dental floss, hair, cotton swabs, cotton balls and condoms down the toilet, it's a bad idea. None of these items break down in water, and they can tangle with other items and block your sewer line. Just because something is used or dirty doesn't mean it should go down the toilet.
Defend Your Drains
Toss these items in the trash.
DOESN'T MEAN IT REALLY IS.
DISPOSE RESPONSIBLY
These things should not go down any drain because they can be either hazardous to water quality or turned into something costly. Defend Your Drains by disposing of these products as described to prevent plumbing problems and to protect the quality of our lakes, rivers and streams.
PREVENT PLUMBING PROBLEMS.
Fats, Oils and Grease
Fats, oils and grease will harden in your pipes or the city sewer lines, and could cause a sewer backup either in your home or neighborhood. Fats, oils and grease come from meats, butter, lard, food scraps, sauces, dressings, dairy products and cooking oil. And, yes, gravy can cause problems too. Even hot, soapy water won’t move these substances very far through the pipes before they start to solidify.
Defend Your Drains
- Never pour oils or grease down the drain or garbage disposal.
- Compost what you can, then scrape food, oils, grease and sauces – yes, even gravy – into the trash.
- Recycle used cooking oil at one of the Dallas drop-off locations. The recycled oil can be used to create electricity. Learn more.
Cleaning Products
While it's OK for small amounts of household chemicals to go down the drain - no more than about a cup - large amounts of these chemicals should not be disposed by way of your household plumbing. Bleach, disinfectants and other household cleaners are difficult to extract from water, and chemicals can be harmful to workers and the environment.
Defend Your Drains
When getting rid of these products, Dallas residents should take them to the Dallas County Home Chemical Collection Center for proper disposal.
Medicines
Help protect the environment and those around you by properly disposing of medicines such as antibiotics, antidepressants, vitamins or pain medications.
Defend Your Drains
- Watch for medicine "take-back" events on our website or in water bill inserts. These events provide a safe, convenient and responsible way to dispose of medicine, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of medications. The federal Drug Enforcement Agency sponsors take-back events twice per year.
- Medication take-back services are also available by a paid envelope. Here is one option: http://www.sharpsinc.com/pharmaceutical-waste
- As a last resort, dispose of medicines in household trash. You can do this by:
- Mixing medicines with a substance such as kitty litter or used coffee grounds;
- Placing that mixture in a container such as a sealed plastic bag; and
- Putting the sealed container in your trash.
Paint and Pesticides
Leftover paint, insecticides, herbicides and paint remover can be hazardous, and they should not be disposed of by way of your household plumbing. These chemicals are difficult and expensive to remove from the water and could damage your home.
Defend Your Drains
- Oil-based paints, pesticides and chemicals: These items are considered hazardous waste and should be taken - carefully - to the Dallas County Home Chemical Collection Center for proper disposal.
- Latex paints: Although not hazardous to the environment, latex paints may also be taken to the Dallas County Home Collection Center for disposal. If there’s only a small amount…