Rutgers University Residential Students,
It is important that the sanitary sewer plumbing in our buildings sustain good operating conditions. This requires your cooperation and attention on what items are prohibited from being flushed down the toilets. Collectively, we need to prevent the blocking of our sanitary sewer systems.
What NOT to Flush down the toilets, sinks and drains:
1. Sanitary Products
Tampons and other sanitary products should not be flushed down the toilet. Please dispose of them in an appropriate sanitary receptacle or trashcan.
2. Cooking Grease/Food
Grease should never be poured down any drain. It may look like a liquid however, when it cools, it will congeal and clog up pipes. Any food items, including rice, should not be poured down any drains.
3. Flushable Wipes/Baby
Wipes/Wet Wipes/Cleaning Pads If you must use any wipes or cleaning pads, throw them away in the trashcan. “Flushable” Wipes are NOT actually flushable as they clog the system.
4. Paper Towels/Tissues
To save money and help the environment, washable cloths and rags can be used for purposes such as keeping your room or apartment clean. When using paper towels, dispose of them in the trash instead of toilets or drains. Tissues and paper towels are not made to dissolve like toilet paper.
5. Beauty products/Q-tips/Dental Floss/Cotton Ballso.
These beauty and hygiene products are not biodegradable and can cause serious clogs and environmental damage. One might assume cotton will break down, but it does not. Cotton clumps together and cause stoppages at the bends in the pipes.
6. Diapers
Just because there is human waste inside diapers does not mean that they are OK to flush. Diapers are made to expand in water thus causing a blockage.
7. Cloth Rags and Underclothing
These cloth and clothing items do not break down and are difficult to remove. They should be disposed of in the garbage can or a dumpster.
8. Pills/Medications
While there is a good intention to put pills out of harm’s way, it is actually doing more harm than good by flushing them. Medication has toxic effects on groundwater supplies and wildlife. Instead of flushing medication, you should properly dispose of them in order to prevent exposure to others.
Please be mindful of what both you and your guests are putting down the sinks drains, and toilets in our residence halls and apartments. Blockages in our sanitary systems are an inconvenience to residents, and in many cases are harmful to the environment.
Only water, human waste, and toilet paper should be flushed down the toilets and only water should be used in showers and sinks.
Thank you for your cooperation and attention on this matter.
Rutgers University Institutional Planning & Operations
Rutgers University Residence Life
