What Not to Flush or Pour Down the Drain

The short rule for toilets

Cobb County's water system boils it down to three P's: toilet paper, pee and poop (Cobb County). EPA gives septic owners the same rule: flush only human waste and toilet paper (EPA).

Keep these out of the toilet and put them in the trash, unless a section below says otherwise:

• wipes of any kind, including baby wipes, cleaning wipes and wipes labeled flushable;
• paper towels, tissues and any paper that isn't toilet paper;
• menstrual products, tampon applicators, condoms and diapers;
• cotton swabs, dental floss, bandages, razor blades and hair;
• cat litter and bagged pet waste;
• cigarette butts, toys and plastic of any kind;
• grease, medicines and household chemicals.

Don't trust a flushable label. EPA lists fats, oils and grease, along with household products "including some marked 'flushable'" such as baby wipes and facial wipes, among materials that can create blockages and lead to sewer overflows (EPA). Cobb County explains that these items may go down the toilet but don't break down in the sewer. In quantity they clog pipes and can cause overflows outdoors or backups into homes, and anything that reaches the treatment plant has to be skimmed off and sent to a landfill.

On septic, there is no plant downstream. Cobb notes that whatever you flush stays in your tank until it is pumped out; the septic pumping guide explains how often that should happen.

Fats, oils and grease

Grease is the main kitchen problem. Cobb County says most sewer blockages and overflows in its system start in residential areas, and that 85 percent of its sewer blockages are grease-related (Cobb County). Gwinnett County's water department explains why hot water doesn't fix it: hot water and soap break oil up in the sink but don't get rid of it, and the oil re-forms as the water cools, sometimes before it leaves your house plumbing (Gwinnett County).

It isn't only frying oil. The two counties list butter, cheese, ice cream, peanut butter, gravy, salad dressing, mayonnaise and meat fat among common sources.

To get rid of grease, combine the two counties' advice:

1. Pour liquid grease or used oil into a can or jar with a lid. Cobb says to use a sealed container you won't be recycling.
2. Let it cool and harden, then put it in the trash.
3. Wipe greasy pans and plates with a paper towel before washing, and throw the towel away.
4. Scrape food scraps into the trash, not the sink.
5. Use a sink strainer and empty it into the trash.

Gwinnett's grease program, in place since 2000, regulates restaurants and other food businesses through a county ordinance. At home, these habits are what keep your own pipes and the street sewer clear.

Garbage disposals don't make it safe

A disposal grinds food smaller; it doesn't make grease or scraps sewer-safe. Gwinnett says running fats through a disposal only shrinks them temporarily and doesn't really change the chance of a clog, and that grease or food scraps sent down the drain still feed sewer clogs even with a disposal.

On septic, a disposal also fills the tank faster. EPA recommends eliminating or limiting its use, says a home that uses one will need its tank pumped more often, and lists coffee grounds and cooking grease among things a septic home should never put down the drain (EPA).

Medicines: take-back first, flush only if FDA says so

FDA ranks the options in this order (FDA):

1. Take-back. Drop the medicine at a take-back location, such as a pharmacy or police station, or mail it in a prepaid drug mail-back envelope. DEA's Take Back Day page has a collection-site locator and links to year-round authorized collectors (DEA). Cobb County holds take-back days every spring and fall.
2. Flush only if the medicine is on FDA's flush list. The list covers certain medicines, such as some opioids, that can be especially dangerous even in one dose if someone else takes them. FDA says not to flush any medicine that isn't on it.
3. Otherwise, household trash. Mix pills or liquid, without crushing tablets, with something unappealing such as dirt, cat litter or used coffee grounds. Seal the mixture in a plastic bag, throw it away, and scratch your personal information off the empty package.

Some products, such as certain sprays, come with their own disposal instructions; FDA says to check the instructions that came with the prescription or ask a pharmacist.

Paint, solvents and other household chemicals

Georgia's Environmental Protection Division says dumping household hazardous waste down the drain pollutes groundwater, lakes and streams, and that liquids aren't allowed in household trash (Georgia EPD). EPD also acknowledges that reuse and recycling options in Georgia are extremely limited. Its suggestions:

• Use up leftover paint and products, give them to someone who can use them, and buy only what a job needs.
• Check the Center for Hard to Recycle Materials (CHaRM) sites in Atlanta and Athens, which accept many household hazardous wastes, or ask your city or county recycling department about amnesty or collection days. Cobb County points residents to CHaRM for paints and concentrated cleaning chemicals.
• For leftover liquids, EPD describes solidifying them with an absorbent such as cat litter so they can go out with the trash. Work outside, wear rubber gloves and eye protection, and never mix products.

On septic, chemicals do extra damage. EPA warns that pouring toxins down the drain can kill the organisms that treat your waste, and it advises against chemical drain openers for a clogged drain (EPA). See chemical drain cleaner safety before you reach for one.

Bottom line

Set up the habits once: a lidded can by the stove for grease, a lined trash can in every bathroom for wipes and hygiene products, and a note of the nearest year-round drug drop-off. If drains are already slow or several fixtures act up at once, see signs of a main sewer line clog. This guide is general information, not medical or legal advice; a pharmacist can answer questions about a specific medicine, and your utility or county can tell you which disposal options serve your address.