Flush it Right 

We might think that wastewater systems can deal with anything that is flushed down the toilet or rinsed down the drain. But sending materials down the drain that don’t belong can cause problems for wastewater systems.  

Unflushable material (such as wipes, dental floss, hair, fats, oils and grease) don’t break down quickly in the wastewater system. They can damage equipment or get caught inside pipes causing blockages. Damaged equipment and blockages can cause sewer backups, costing time and money to remedy. Beyond the cost, wastewater treatment cannot remove all contaminants, sending the unremoved ones into the environment. By caring about what does down your drain, you will:  

• Prevent blockages, sewer backups and equipment failure  

• Save money  

• Protect the environment 

What Goes Where  

To learn how to dispose of different materials, check out the What Goes Where tool, or check out the table below for a few examples.  

Best Practices for Fats, Oils and Grease Disposal in the Green Bin  

When you have fats, oils and grease left over on plate, pots and pans you can scrape it into your green bin before washing.  

If you have a large amount of used cooking oil, try putting small amounts in your green bin every day until you have disposed of the entire amount. Only put in what can be absorbed by the contents of your green bin (fuller green bins can absorb more liquids than emptier ones). Excess liquids in the green bin can cause problems further down the line, as the trucks that collect green bins are not designed to handle liquids.  

Resources  

The Unflushables 

“The Unflushables” is the concept and creative courtesy of Metro Vancouver. 

The Unflushables

"The Unflushables" is the concept and creative courtesy of Metro Vancouver.