Can You Flush Tampons? Why You Shouldn't

You should never flush a tampon under any circumstances, whether you’re at home or in a public washroom, such as a workplace or restaurant.

Flushing tampons costs the UK £100m a year in sewer repairs. It also costs businesses millions in emergency call outs and repairs for blocked toilets. Flushed tampons also have a detrimental effect on the environment and wildlife, as they don’t dissolve or degrade like toilet paper.

Tampons are classed as offensive waste, alongside other sanitary waste like male incontinence pads. This means they are not infectious or hazardous, but because they contain blood and bodily fluids, they must be disposed of in the correct manor.

Why you shouldn’t flush tampons

What makes tampons so problematic to flush? Here’s a few reasons:

They expand: Tampons are designed to expand, but this is the worst thing for toilet pipes where the increased size creates blockages.
They’re not as biodegradable: Unlike toilet paper, cotton and rayon stay intact in water, some tampons are also made with polyester. These materials could take decades or even centuries to dissolve.
They cause harm to wildlife: Parts of the tampon like strings and synthetic covers don’t break down and pollute natural waters. These can cause injury and disrupt marine and river ecosystems.

What are tampons made of?

Tampons are menstrual products made from absorbent fibres that collect menstrual flow inside the body, in general they will be made up of:

Cotton for softness and absorbency
Rayon (made from purified wood pulp) for enhanced absorbency
Cotton-rayon blends to balance comfort and performance
A removal string, typically made from cotton or synthetic fibres
An optional applicator, usually made from cardboard or plastic

How significant is the problem of flushing tampons?

phs conducted research on how many tampons are flushed in the UK, and it shows a worrying trend. More than 2.4 million tampons are flushed down toilets every day in the UK equating to more than half of tampon users.

Flushing tampons contributes to more than 300,000 sewer blockages every year, at a repair cost of £100m. And with 4.8 pieces of menstrual waste being found per 100m of beach cleaned, tampon waste is having a serious effect on the environment.

Why are tampons flushed?

Our research found that tampons are flushed for a variety of reasons. Mainly down to lack of knowledge, embarrassment or lack of the correct facilities in washrooms.

One of the most troubling is linked to "period shame’’ where individuals, particularly women, feel the need to conceal the fact that they are menstruating. In our report, 41% of individuals admitted to flushing tampons because of a desire to hide their period, with 24% admitting to doing so because it's deemed 'less embarrassing.'

More than half of women do not know that tampons shouldn’t be flushed, but those who do know continue to do so anyway. Other reasons for flushing include a lack of easy access cubicle sanitary bins in workplaces, bars, restaurants and public washrooms, or bins that are full due to poor waste management and cleaning schedules.

Most of these reasons mean that tampon flushing is preventable, and better awareness, education and disposal facilities could go a long way towards combatting the issue.

What can be done to stop flushing?

There are many practices that can be put in place to help stop tampon flushing. It must be a collective effort from businesses, organisations and individuals. Some measures to consider include:

Dedicated disposal bins and products

Invest in sanitary bins designed explicitly for the safe disposal of tampons and ensure they are clearly labelled. At phs, we offer multiple secure and discreet solutions to ensure proper and safe disposal without environmental harm. From the FabLittleBag to discreet sanitary bins, we also offer serviced help yourself and coin vend machine to provide pads and tampons to your customers and staff. Our sanitary bin service collects the waste, sanitises the bin and keeps your washroom clean and hygienic, while ensuring users can dispose of period products confidently.

In addition, up to 95% of the hygiene waste we collect, is diverted away from landfill and taken to energy from waste facilities through the phs Lifecycle Strategy, where it is turned into energy to power homes, hospitals and even schools.

Tackling period shame and education

phs not only provides sanitary disposal products, but advocates for addressing period shame and dispelling misinformation. We also campaign to end period inequality so that girls and women not only have the support and awareness but have the products when they need them too.

We’ve even launched our own podcast, The Blobcast, to help free the period and encourage positive conversations about menstruation and everything that comes with it. We also have a range of resources and learning packs to help provide further education around period care and wellbeing.

Clear signage and training

If you provide sanitary bins, you should ensure there is clear signage and information to help educate users on how to use them properly. This can make a big difference, educating those who are unaware that they shouldn’t flush tampons, while encouraging those that do know to think twice about flushing.

You should also educate staff like HR teams and facilities managers as part of a wider strategy, to communicate this as policy via email or staff intranet. It’s also important to make sure women and girls can discreetly ask questions, or be given free products if they don’t have any, due to financial hardship or simply forgetting on the day.

Eco-friendly alternatives

Whether you’re a user yourself or someone who provides sanitary bins services, you can explore environmentally friendly menstrual products, such as menstrual cups, reusable cloth pads, and organic tampons.

These alternatives minimise waste and contribute to a more sustainable approach to feminine hygiene. Encouraging the use of alternatives can make a big difference in how much waste ends up in our sewerage systems.

We can help you make a difference

In short, flushing tampons isn’t something you should do. The problem of tampon waste is significant, but there are different ways to combat it. Your business or organisation can provide the facilities and resources to make responsible choices for disposing of tampons, and we can help you along the way.

Explore phs’ full range of washroom hygiene services and together, let’s help promote responsible disposal habits to help reduce the impact of tampon flushing.