Don't Flush It
The typical household toilet is flushed about five times per day. That's 1,320 flushes per year per toilet. That also means 1,320 chances to clog your lines if you treat your toilet like a trash can.
Remember the three "P's"
Only three things can be safely flushed down your toilet: pee, poo and paper specified for toilet use.
Wipes clog pipes
Disposable doesn’t mean flushable. Personal wipes, cleaning wipes and baby wipes do not dissolve in water, even if marketed as "flushable" by manufacturers. They commonly clog sewer service lines (the lines that extend between a person's home or business and the sewer main), and are the biggest contributor to clogs and backups in our sewer system.
Be kind to your plumbing. Toss used baby, hygiene and other types of wipes into the trash. Don't flush them down the toilet.
The toilet is not a trashcan
It is easy to see an open toilet lid and toss something into the bowl out of convenience. What you don't see is the potential for clogs and backups later down the line. Keep your pipes from clogging and prevent costly plumber's bills by keeping the items listed below out of your toilet. Toss them instead.
- Cat litter (individual cat poos are acceptable if not covered in litter)
- Cigarette butts
- Clothing, rags or cleaning towels
- Clothing labels and price tags
- Condoms (latex or other material)
- Cotton balls
- Cotton swabs
- Dental floss
- Diapers and adult hygiene products
- Disposable rubber gloves
- Disposable toilet brushes or swabs
- Food wrappers
- Hair or hair ties
- Paper (office, junk mail, etc.)
- Paper towels
- Rubber gloves
- Sponges and shower scrubs
- Tampons, sanitary pads and incontinence pads
- Tissues or tissue paper
- Underwear or other clothing
Don't flush medications
Flushing prescription and over-the-counter drugs can create problems with our sewer treatment process. They can also be harmful to people, pets and our environment if tossed in the trash. If you have unused medications you need to dispose of, drop them off instead.
Dispose of medications properly
Several pharmacies, including national chains, accept unused prescriptions, but not all individual stores offer drop-off services. Check with your local pharmacy to see if a drop-off box is available near you.
You can also drop off unused medications at locations listed in either of these two links:
The City's Public Works Department offers a medication drop-off program during their annual Special Collection event, usually held each Spring. The 2025 event will take place on April 12. Be on the look out for an announcement in the City News newsletter included in your monthly water bill or a news release for more information.
Prescription medications are not accepted at the City's Household Hazardous Waste facility.