Many public toilets have hygiene waste bins in which you should dispose of your hygiene products. You should not flush them down the toilet as this can cause clogging.
The most responsible and respectful way to dispose of a tampon is to wrap it or place it in something and throw it in the garbage. For discretion, you can wrap the tampon in toilet paper or a facial tissue and then toss. You can also buy small bags made for wrapping tampons or pads in before disposal.
Both Kotex and Tampax advise throwing them away because, hello, tampons clog the plumbing. While biodegradable in landfills, tampons damage septic systems, and they don't help out wastewater-treatment facilities either.
Tampax Flushable Super Tampons - 20 CT.
Can I flush tampons if I have a septic tank? Yes, if you're using 100% cotton tampons, these can biodegrade in septic tanks or composting toilets. No, if you're using conventional tampons, usually made with plastic overwraps that interfere with the tampons breaking up and biodegrading.
Single use, disposable nappies, feminine hygiene products and incontinence products cannot be recycled, nor can they be composted. They belong in your red bin. This information is designed to assist and advise people with disposal of these items in the fortnightly mixed waste red bin.
Tampon disposal and the environment
Some may think that because tampons are small, they won't do any damage to the plumbing, or to the environment. In fact, tampons are incredibly harmful to the environment. An estimated 2.5 million tampons are flushed down the toilet every day.
The best way to dispose of your tampon is to simply put it in a bin. If you're at home, a small bin with a lid (if you want to avoid people seeing your used products) will do just fine. Nowadays, many public bathrooms have sanitary bins or something to properly dispose of your menstrual products in.
“You might clog up the plumbing system and it's bad for the environment,” Kotex states, while Tampax says, “Tampons cannot be processed by wastewater-treatment facilities and they can harm septic systems.” Playtex is seemingly an outlier, instructing customers to “flush the used tampon or place in an appropriate waste ...
Unlike toilet paper, tampons never break down. This makes them problematic for any plumbing system. Flushing a tampon down the toilet is like flushing any small hard object. They can produce the same type of blockage in your plumbing system.
Use a self-sealing disposal bag.
You can place used tampons inside, seal them, and throw them in the trash. They will keep you from exposing another person to your bodily fluids. Period disposal bags also let you throw away a tampon at a friend's house without being embarrassed that they will see what's inside.
it depends on the type of plumbing you have, if you have plastic pipe it would be fine but cast iron pipe may clog.
You should never wear more than one tampon at a time. Doubling up on tampons increases your risk of Toxic Shock Syndrome, or TSS. If your flow is very heavy, wear a tampon with a higher absorbency and change it more frequently. Or use a sanitary pad as extra back up.
While tampons will biodegrade given enough time, it can take up to 6 months, according to some sources. That's too long! A tampon caught in your sewer pipe for more than a few hours can cause a backup of household waste that could go right back into your house.
How many pads or tampons should I use in a day? People change their period products for different reasons, not just because they're always full, so there's not an exact answer here. However, 3-6 products per day (pads or tampons) is normal.
You will need to change your tampon every 3 to 4 hours, or when it's full. Never leave a tampon in for more than 8 hours — rarely, this could cause a dangerous condition called toxic shock syndrome. For this reason, it might be best not to use tampons overnight.
As a business owner, the requirements of your bathrooms for your employees are just as important as cash flow. Sanitary unit laws in Australia dictate that all employers must properly equip all available cubicles with a sanitary unit.
Because tampons expand when wet, they can often get stuck in pipes, building up debris over time and thus making blockages even worse.
The good news is that Tampons will most likely not going to clog the sewer line or ruin the tank, they will still be in there years to come. It is important to note, that if you have a sewage pump, grinder pump, or seweage ejector pump, tampons could damage these components and cause a costly repair.
Although some tampons are biodegradable, they take time to degrade. In theory, it's fine to flush compostable and biodegradable tampons, however, most water-waste systems simply can't cope with items such as tampons. They can accumulate over time and block drains, potentially flooding homes and gardens.
Never flush nappies, sanitary napkins, tampons, incontinence pads, bandages, cotton buds or condoms down the toilet. These products commonly cause sewer blockages. All these items should be put in the rubbish bin.
But plumbers and the people who run city sewer systems are pretty clear on this: we really shouldn't be flushing tampons. So it's best to throw your tampon in the garbage (pro tip: get one with a lid or keep the bathroom door closed if you have a curious dog!) instead of flushing it.
Menstrual sponges are natural or synthetic sea sponges that some folks use just like a tampon. Though absorbent and sustainable, their safety is questionable. According to some OB-GYNs, if you clean your sponge thoroughly before and after use, it *might* be safe to use. But that doesn't mean they recommend them.