Toilet paper is considered one of the most common household items.
Although the damage it can cause to toilets isn’t much, it’s essential to know what toilets are made of. Since these are destined for the landfill, they must be disposed of properly.
So, how do you dispose of toilet paper properly?
Toilet paper is behind some of the greatest inventions of our time, including flush toilets.
However, as toilets have become more advanced, toilet paper has become increasingly complicated. For example, today’s toilet paper comes in different sizes and with different features.
However, many people don’t feel comfortable disposing of toilet paper properly. Luckily, there are a few easy ways to dispose of toilet paper properly.
First, you can wrap used toilet paper in a tissue and dispose of it in the trash. Second, you can flush toilet paper down the toilet after first dissolving it in the toilet water.
Finally, you can dispose of toilet paper by burning it or recycling it. All of these methods are acceptable ways to dispose of toilet paper.
However, it’s always best to use the toilet rather than dispose of toilet paper in other ways.
How to Dispose of Toilet Paper Properly
Contents
Emergency Scenarios
Toilets are not to be flushed down your drains and sinks.
An outhouse will sometimes be accessible where the toilet may be temporarily unavailable (for example, at an outdoor music festival).
When camping and there are no outhouses, the easiest way to dispose of toilet paper is to bury it (preferably in a hole) when there are no convenient alternatives.
Don’t Flush Toilet Paper Down the Toilet
Many people don’t feel comfortable disposing of toilet paper down the toilet. However, this is perfectly acceptable under normal circumstances. When you flush the toilet paper down the toilet, it goes down through a pipe that carries waste from your home to the nearest sewer treatment facility.
Cloth Toilet Paper
Another eco-friendly approach is to use cloth instead of paper for your toilet needs.
Cloth toilet paper, like cloth diapers, can be used for more than one child and can be washed and repurposed as necessary.
Even the most environmentally conscious individuals may not choose cloth toilet paper over paper toilet paper for single-use purposes.
This is because cloth toilets take up more space, are more noticeable, and can be more difficult to clean and sanitize.
Extra Convenient Toilet Paper
For people who prefer using paper toilet paper over cloth toilet paper, there are eco-friendly options available on the market.
In addition to choosing an eco-friendly toilet paper brand, you can choose a toilet paper sized differently than typical rolls so that you don’t have to use as much product each time you use the bathroom.
Bidet
A bidet is a device that attaches to your toilet and uses water pressure to spray water on your backside when you sit down on the toilet.
This is the most ecologically friendly way to clean yourself after using the bathroom because you don’t have to use water or energy to clean yourself.
A bidet is a little more expensive than a toilet alone, but it can save you water and money in the long run.
It starts with a modest investment and then costs you almost nothing to operate each month after that.
Bidets are becoming increasingly popular in Western countries because they are an environmentally friendly way to clean the skin without wasting water.
It is a low-cost investment that can save a lot of water and energy each year if used correctly.
Recycling
There is toilet paper that can be recycled, but it usually has BPA in it, which can be harmful in large amounts.
Many biodegradable types of toilet paper exist and can promote the recycling process. But using plastic toilet paper more than once is not a good idea because it could hurt the environment.
Burning Toilet Paper
Some people choose to reuse toilet paper by burning it instead of flushing it down the toilet.
Burning toilet paper is an informal method of recycling toilet paper, but this practice has many drawbacks.
First, burning toilet paper is not natural because it involves the use of fossil fuels (the burning of fossil fuels releases CO2 into the atmosphere).
Second, burning paper creates particulates that can pollute the air and damage lungs.
Third, burning paper creates soot that is highly explosive and can create fire hazards.
Fourth, burning paper creates air pollution that can be harmful to the environment and people’s health.
Burning Toilet Paper is Unacceptable
Burning toilet paper is an informal method of recycling toilet paper that has many drawbacks.
When you burn toilet paper, you’re creating pollution in the atmosphere that harms the environment that you live in as well as your body.
Burning toilet paper creates soot that is highly explosive and can create fire hazards.
Burning paper creates air pollution that can be harmful to the environment and people’s health.
Throw Away
Many nations with antiquated sewage systems require toilet paper to be thrown away after it is used.
Thrown-away toilet paper winds up in landfills, where it breaks down and creates methane gas, which pollutes the atmosphere and causes global warming.
Toilet paper is biodegradable, so it should be able to be composted or recycled instead of being thrown away in a landfill.
Flushing
When toilet paper is flushed, 95% of it dissolves, but the remaining 5% can clog up plumbing and cause sewage backup in your home.
The only thing you should be doing with used toilet tissue is throwing it away in the trash and not flushing it down the toilet.
Tampons, napkins, paper towels, baby wipes, and other sanitary products should never be flushed down the toilet because they contain toxic materials and can cause a blockage in your plumbing system if accidentally flushed.
Old sewage systems break down over time, turning into sewers that smell bad and are full of rats and other pests.
Even though flushing is the most eco-friendly way to get rid of used toilet paper, newer sewage systems are less likely to get clogged.
Things to Consider When Disposing Toilet Paper
To Flush or Not to Flush
Toilet paper is biodegradable, so it should be flushed down the toilet.
However, some people argue that flushing toilet paper is wasteful and could increase water bills over time.
On the other hand, flushing toilet paper helps remove germs from our toilets and sinks, making sanitation more effective.
Furthermore, a 2015 study found that only 2–3 percent of toilet paper clogs toilets, which is less than the amount of toilet paper that Americans flush down the toilet.
For these reasons, it’s generally better to flush toilet paper than to dispose of it in the trash.
Age of Your Sewer System
Before dumping toilet paper into the toilet, consider the age of your sewer system.
Older sewer systems can’t handle toilet paper that breaks down quickly. This is because toilet paper can clog the sewer system and cause problems for nearby homes.
When old toilet paper gets stuck, it causes backups that can damage homes or cause sewage to leak out onto the street. To avoid these potential issues, consider buying toilet paper that breaks down slowly.
That way, you’ll have less concern about your sewer system.
Quantity
It seems that everybody uses toilet paper, whether at home or in public restrooms.
However, many people don’t realize how much toilet paper they use. A single roll of toilet paper (1 ply) can usually hold up to 400 sheets.
However, many people use much more toilet paper than they actually need.
So, the next time you’re in a public restroom, try to remember how much toilet paper you used.
Perhaps you could try using less toilet paper next time.
Also Read:How to Dispose of Tampons Safely
Conclusion
In conclusion, it’s important to dispose of toilet paper properly.
First, it’s important to use toilet paper properly. When wiping, use enough paper to cover your buttocks and your genital area.
Second, it’s important to dispose of toilet paper properly. When flushing toilet paper, make sure it’s fully dissolved before flushing.
Third, it’s important to dispose of toilet paper properly. When disposing of used toilet paper, make sure it’s placed in a bin that will be used for paper products.
Finally, it’s important to dispose of toilet paper properly. When disposing of used toilet paper, make sure it’s placed in a bin that will be used for paper products.
