Know where it goes
Are you flushing wipes down the toilet or pouring grease down the sink?
What you pour down the sink or flush down the toilet can be costly. It can lead to blocked pipes in your home, costly plumbing repairs and flood damage from sewage backups in your basement. It can also be costly for municipal wastewater treatment equipment including blocked sewer pipes and buildup on wastewater handling equipment requiring unscheduled maintenance.
| Top offenders: how to correctly dispose of household items that are routinely flushed | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The chart below lists the correct disposal method for many household items that are routinely flushed. For a complete list of how to properly dispose of your waste ask the Region of Waterloo Waste Whiz.
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| Put wipes, including flushable ones, in the garbage | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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No wipes - including ones marked "flushable" - should be flushed down the toilet. They don't break apart and block pipes which can overflow, causing health concerns, environmental issues, and property damage for homeowners and wastewater treatment plants. Put wipes, including flushable ones, in the garbage. Read the information sheet to learn more.
Make your own reusable wipes For a reusable alternative to wipes, try using "green" cleaning solutions and a reusable rag or make your own using this simple DIY: 1. Combine the below ingredients
2. Place rags or washcloths into a container 3. Pour liquid solution over rags or washcloths 4. Overtime, you may need to add hot water to reactivate them as they dry out |
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| Properly dispose of fats, cooking oils and grease | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Fat, cooking oil and grease (FOG) should never go down your drains. They can block sewer pipes and cause buildup on wastewater handling equipment. Blocked pipes can overflow causing health concerns, environmental issues and property damage. Ask the Waste Whiz on how to properly dispose of FOG.
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| Return unused and expired medications to participating pharmacies | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medicines poured down your sink or flushed down your toilet may end up in our waterways. Return unused and expired medications to a location near you.
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| Properly dispose of chemicals, oils and paints | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Buy only what you need, use it up and dispose of leftovers safely and properly. Consider using green alternatives and natural options whenever possible. |
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| What businesses need to know | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Businesses discharging fat, oil and grease must comply with the Region of Waterloo Sewer Use By-law 1-90. Workers, management, facility owners and property owners all must understand and manage the type of materials going down the drain. The Region's new Sewer Use By-law 21-036 takes effect Jan. 1, 2022 and will replace the previous Sewer Use By-law 1-90 and its amendments. You can use this online form to apply for a permit under the new Sewer Use By-Law. Read the Fats, oils and grease information sheet to learn more.
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