Why we shouldn't flush rubbish down the toilet or wash it down the sink
Few people realise that the water that's flushed down our toilets or goes down the plughole or gully trap is treated by natural biological processes and gets released into Port Phillip Bay.
After it leaves our toilets and sinks, the wastewater (sewage) travels through the sewerage system to Melbourne Water's Werribee Treatment Plant, or in the case of the Altona community, to the Altona Treatment Plant, which is run by City West Water. Here, the wastewater is treated by bacteria during a series of natural processes that purify it to environmentally acceptable standards set by the Environment Protection Authority.
However, problems arise when people put plastics and other non-biodegradable materials like oils and rubber into the sewerage system. These may cause a blockage and overflow from the sewerage system to the environment. In addition, the bacteria that break down the rest of the waste cannot deal with these materials. That makes it harder and more costly to treat the wastewater to a level that's safe for release back into the environment. So it's vitally important that we don't put these things down the toilet, sink or gully trap in the first place.
Read on to find out what shouldn't be put in the sewerage system, and what waste can be recycled in the compost heap or disposed of in the garbage. It's certainly better than polluting our sewers and the environment.
Kitchen and Laundry
- Don't pour cooking oil or fat down the sink.
- Don't wash food scraps, tea leaves or coffee grounds down the sink. These should all be placed in a compost heap, to eventually go back to the garden.
- Use manufacturer's recommended amount of detergent for washing up in the kitchen and laundry.
Bathroom and toilet
- Don't flush nappies, sanitary napkins, tampons, incontinence pads, surgical bandages, cotton tipped stems or pantihose down the toilet.
- Don't flush razor blades, condoms, pharmaceutical products, cigarette butts, nail polish remover, toilet deodorant dispensers or other non-biodegradable products down the sink.
Garbage and garden shed
When spring cleaning your garage or garden shed, don't pour paint, engine oil, pesticides or chemicals down the gully trap, and don't try to burn them.