What Not to Flush

Just because the package says "flushable" doesn't mean it's true. Many items marketed as disposable and/or flushable do NOT degrade like toilet paper, and they wind up clogging pipes, tangling pumps and causing messy sewer backups into streets, businesses, and your home. This increases the City’s maintenance costs to fix pumps and clean City sewer pipes.

The drains that connect your home to the main sewer are often no wider than 4" and only big enough to carry water, toilet paper, and human waste.

Do not flush...

• Diapers (cloth, disposable, "flushable")
• Facial tissues, cotton balls, swabs, and pads
• Cleaning wipes of ANY kind (baby wipes, disinfectant wipes, moist wipes, etc.)
• Toilet bowl scrub pads
• Swiffers
• Napkins (paper or cloth), paper towels
• Dental floss
• Egg shells, nutshells, and coffee grounds
• Fats, oils, and greases
• Hair
• Sanitary napkins, tampons, condoms, or any non-organic material
• Vitamins, medicines, or other pharmaceuticals
• (in Albany take unwanted medication to the Albany Police Department for proper disposal—it's FREE!)
• Wash cloths, towels, rags (any cloth item)
• Clothing
• Sheet plastic, or plastic of any kind
• Hazardous materials (bring to the Republic Services Household Hazardous Waste Roundup—it's FREE!)
• Bandages or band aids
• Kitty litter