CP: Tampon Disposal Question

hopefuldog · August 2014

After a discussion with friends and a story about clogged plumbing, I'm curious what others do to dispose of used tampons.

hopefuldog · August 2014

I'm an always trash them person. Apparently some people think that is disgusting. I think clogged plumbing is way more disgusting and the several thousand dollar cost involved.

hopefuldog · August 2014

@rosiepeare, wow, very impressive and thoughtful to carry them out (although kinda yucky too)!

So to clarify, when I say tampons, I'm mean the used cotton tampon itself, so I would think OBs would still count. I didn't mean the applicator. Do some people flush the applicator too? I assumed the applicator always went in the trash and people only flushed the used tampon. This is so enlightening!

RondackHiker · August 2014

I always wrap in toilet paper so it isn't visible and throw it away.

shellbell3845 · August 2014

Depends where I am. At my parents -- trash always. At home -- flush. Out -- usually flush.

hopefuldog · August 2014

shellbell3845 said:
Depends where I am. At my parents -- trash always. At home -- flush. Out -- usually flush.

@shellbell3845‌, I'm curious why you trash and your parents and flush at home? Seems to me most people would do opposite.

iwubrory · August 2014

Trash at home. Flush in public.

p2k2c4bk2p2 · August 2014

Menstrual cup FTW!

hopefuldog · August 2014

car seat said:
Oh my God, people. Never flush those things. How do you all not know better?

Haha, that's what I was thinking @car seat‌. I get that it can be kinda awkward to put in the trash, but I'd be beyond pissed if someone clogged my pipes by flushing a tampon at my house.

I've had a friends dog pull my used tampon out of the trash and run around the house.

I've also been in a hotel room with all guy friends who needed ice. They took the trash can liner (with trash in it, including my used tampon. They thought it was just a few tissues) and filled it with ice and dumped it in a cooler. An hour or so later, the beer was floating in red water.

So yeah, I've had embarrassing experiences, but I still never flush.

[Deleted User] · August 2014

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shellbell3845 · August 2014

hopefuldog said:

Depends where I am. At my parents -- trash always. At home -- flush. Out -- usually flush.
@shellbell3845‌, I'm curious why you trash and your parents and flush at home? Seems to me most people would do opposite.

Septic system there, sewer here? I've actually never thought of not flushing here. Apparently a UO? Maybe I'll start trashing after reading this.

djtippietoes · August 2014

Trash at home. We're on a septic tank, so the last thing I want is for a tampon to clog it and have my backyard start to flood.

I do flush them in some public restrooms that have heavy-duty toilets.

Flyingtoast · August 2014

I used to flush them always as a teenager. Now if I used a tampon, it's goes to the trash can that is moved off the ground because of dogs. I am transiting to a cup though once I find one that fits my PP bits.

MissDemeanor · August 2014

I haven't had a period in so long! I forgot all about tampon use. (Side note: I hadn't had a period in 10 months when I got pregnant.)

iwubrory · August 2014

I'll continue to flush when out in public. I do my best to avoid public restrooms though.

iwubrory · August 2014

car seat said:

I'll continue to flush when out in public. I do my best to avoid public restrooms though.
But why would you do this? I don't understand. You're willfully damaging property. What's the benefit?

1. There isn't always a can for it in the stall and I'm not hauling it out into the common area.

2. When there is a can, it's often disgusting. I'm not interested in touching that thing. For some reason other people's blood just isn't my thing.

3. Public toilets tend to be more powerful so they can get solids to the sewer easier.

4. Public restrooms gross me out in general so I try to get in and out of them as quickly as possible.

FTR, this thread isn't news to me. It would surprise me if most of the people who flush didn't know it isn't recommended.

shellbell3845 · August 2014

car seat said:

iwubrory said:
I'll continue to flush when out in public. I do my best to avoid public restrooms though.
But why would you do this? I don't understand. You're willfully damaging property. What's the benefit?

I've never thought of flushing as willfully damaging property because the box says flush, and I've never been in a place where it was a plumbing problem (save for my mom's, where the toilet clogs if you use too much tp....but I assumed that was just an issue there). But now that we're having this oh-so-fascinating conversation, I'm thinking I'll trash. (Mostly because now I'm thinking if there ever was a plumbing issue, I don't want that displayed all over my front lawn.)

iwubrory · August 2014

car seat said:

Okay, well it's an asshole thing to do. I don't know where you're going that has blood all over the place, though. Maybe reconsider where you go in public. Seriously, those things can do serious damage. It's just fucking rude to flush them. I kind of hope you'll experience the consequences some time so you'll actually learn.

OK, I'll stop going to Target.

RondackHiker · August 2014

If the trash can is that gross use toilet paper over your hand before you open it.

p2k2c4bk2p2 · August 2014

Ok some places may not have a can but target for sure does. Use tp to touch it if you are grossed out. I mean you're just about to go wash your hands anyway.

shellbell3845 · August 2014

broccolisgirl said:
Also, our local news had a story about the inner city sewers. They showed snake camera footage while talking about what a burden the aging sewer system is. The thousands of clogs in the main sewer pipelines consisting of wipes, diapers, pads, and tampons, are causing the pipes to crack and force costly repairs. All they can do to prevent future damage is to ask people to be responsible.

I find this very interesting. I would never flush a pad/diaper/wipe, but because the tampon box says to flush, I didn't give it a second thought. Now I am thinking about it and see why it's a problem. Maybe tampon boxes should be re-written.

Lemon81 · August 2014

As the granddaughter of a plumbing contractor, we were drilled that nothing is flushed except tp (and a reasonable amount of tp, not huge) and the obvious toilet contents. Everything else goes in the trashcan.

p2k2c4bk2p2 · August 2014

I would never flush a diaper, pad or non-flush able wipe but for years I had no idea flushing tampons in general was bad. I knew you don't flush in buildings with older plumbing or septic systems.

iwubrory · August 2014

.

TyrannosaurusLex said:

I mean...we do see the active thread on our board regarding the water crisis in Ohio right? It's not just about plumbing here, it's about the attitude towards our water systems.

These two issues aren't related, flushing tampons doesn't do anything to our drinking water.

versed · August 2014

Speaking of flushing diapers - did you know you're supposed empty the contents of a soiled disposable diaper before putting the diaper in the trash?

Many people don't know this either.

ETA: empty contents into toilet

versed · August 2014

utpony said:

versed said:
Speaking of flushing diapers - did you know you're supposed empty the contents of a soiled disposable diaper before putting the diaper in the trash?

Many people don't know this either.
Um....how? Like am I supposed to rinse off runny poop?

More-so the solid stuff. BM poop is water-soluble.

Flyingtoast · August 2014

versed said:
Speaking of flushing diapers - did you know you're supposed empty the contents of a soiled disposable diaper before putting the diaper in the trash?

Many people don't know this either.

I pointed this out to someone who thought it was nasty to do that while CDing. Disposable or CD, 'solids' go in the john.

Years ago I read an article about how landfills were having to close sites early because of the amount of haz-mat waste was making the sites an unsafe environment for the workers. That really stuck with me. Landfills are already a horrible thing, but to not be able to fully utilize a site because of built up bodily fluids and waste? Just kills me.

Soap1 · August 2014

I don't flush at home because we're on a septic tank, but I've always flushed in a regular sewer system. Never even thought about it. I went on a tour of a sewer treatment plant in college and they talked about the influx of tampons and condoms when college was in session, but never said it was a problem.

hopefuldog · August 2014

megash113 said:
If anyone ever flushes a tampon at my house, I will retrieve it from the backyard (after it floods my septic) and shove it down her throat.

That is all.

Based on the poll results, it looks like we are all having tampons flushed down our toilets at some point by a guest. There are more flushers, unfortunately. Hopefully this discussion has changed some people. In the mean time, I suppose we should hang signs in our bathrooms asking not to flush. Think there is an etsy shop for that? Shark tank idea?

JackieP1023 · August 2014

It never once even crossed my mind TO flush them... I have always wrapped (well) and trashed, no matter where I am. Sure, some public bathrooms don't have individual trash cans/receptacles... but who cares? It isn't like you're being asked to carry it the rest of the day... it is 5 steps to the trash can. In a room where only women are. Women who also bleed.... I don't know. I don't get it.

Firefly9 · August 2014

In the trash at home, since we have septic. I flush them in the power toilets out in public sometimes, but mostly try to remember to throw them away so I don't start flushing at home out of habit.

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