Can wipes be flushed down the toilet? What can be flushed?

Do Not Flush Picture According to the PA Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP), only toilet paper and human waste are to be flushed down your toilet, not disinfecting wipes or other non-flushable items that should be disposed of in the trash. This includes even so-called "flushable" wipes.

Tissues, paper towels, and single-use wipes, including cleansing and diaper wipes, cannot be safely flushed, even if they are labeled as “flushable” or “biodegradable.” Other non-flushable items include things like diapers, feminine hygiene products, disposable toilet brushes, disposable gloves, cotton swabs, dental floss, and kitty litter.

PADEP also encourages residents and businesses to refrain from disposing of food scraps, grease, fat or oil down the drain. These should also be disposed of in the trash to help keep wastewater pipes clear.

Flushing or dumping the wrong things down the drain can cause blockages in your own home or business as well as problems in ECTA's sanitary sewer system and ultimately in the sanitary sewer treatment facility. These products do not break down like toilet paper and can clog systems very quickly.