Can you flush tampons?
To flush or not to flush? That is the question on everyone’s mind when they’re finished with a tampon. Can you flush a tampon down the toilet? No. Should you flush a tampon down the toilet? Nope. In this blog post, we’ll explain why you should never flush a tampon down the toilet and share alternative methods of disposal that are both safe and eco-friendly.
Flushing tampons can cause plumbing problems & clogging
Flushing your tampon down the toilet can wreak havoc on your plumbing system and our precious waterways. Unlike toilet paper, tampons are not designed to break down in water, as they’re made from absorbent materials, they can cause blockages in pipes which leads to clogs and potential damage to your home’s plumbing infrastructure.
Our 100% organic cotton tampons are 100% biodegradable, however they’re best disposed of in your compost bin or with your regular household waste.
Flushing tampons can cause sewage system struggles
Whatever you flush down the toilet doesn’t just magically disappear. It all ends up in the sewage system. Municipal sewage systems are designed to handle water and the three P’s (that’s pee, poop & paper) but they’re not equipped to handle tampons. Flushed tampons can accumulate and combine with other debris, leading to blockages, pump failures and sewage backups. These issues can also build up and have far-reaching consequences, like environmental pollution and health risks.
Flushing tampons have an environmental impact
Every small step we make to reduce our ecological footprint makes a big difference. Flushing tampons contributes to water pollution, as they can end up in rivers, lakes and oceans. Most tampons on the market are also made from synthetic materials which take a long time to (or never) biodegrade, this poses a huge threat to aquatic life and can disrupt delicate ecosystems.
Alternative ways to dispose of tampons
By opting for period care made from natural and biodegradable materials and choosing responsible disposal methods, we can actively contribute to preserving our environment. Here’s our top alternatives for disposing your tampons:
Wrap & toss
Remove the tampon and wrap it in paper, tissue or a tampon wrappyer and place it in the designated waste bin. This simple step ensures that the tampon is disposed of safely and properly. Remember, our 100% organic cotton tampons are biodegradable, so they won’t end up in landfill forever.
Compost your tampons
As our tampons are biodegradable (they’ll actually biodegrade faster than a banana!) so you can add them to your compost bin
- Start by creating the ideal conditions, for example make it warm and damp by making or buying a sealed bin. Adding to your compost bin regularly, ensures the optimum conditions. It is a good idea to have a balance of both ‘brown’ and ‘green’ compost.
- Organic tampons are considered to be brown compost along with paper, cardboard, egg cartons and more fibrous plant stalks and stems. These do take longer to break down and biodegrade than ‘green’ compost and so it’s a good idea to cut or pull these apart by hand, before putting them in the compost bin.
- And wait! Although our organic cotton period products are compostable, they will take around 18 months to completely break down and for nature’s building blocks to be returned to the soil.
Swap to reusable period care
Of course, you could always say goodbye to tampons for good and swap to our reusable period cup! A period cup is made from medical-grade silicone so it’s super soft and flexible and works by collecting your menstrual fluid rather than absorbing it. Easy to wear, empty and clean, it can be reused for up to 10 years. In fact, it’ll save 2,500 tampons from landfill over its lifetime.
So, by disposing your tampon in the right way, you can make a small but significant step towards a cleaner environment and the preservation of our plumbing and water systems. Read our blog about how to dispose of a tampon for further information. Flushing tampons down the toilet may seem convenient but the consequences can be severe and long-lasting. By disposing correctly, composting or swapping to reusable period care, you can help protect your home and environment for future generations. So, if you find yourself asking “to flush or not to flush?” the answer is always “not to flush”!
Got another question about tampons? Get in touch! Drop us an email at talktomesister@andsisters.com
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