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Your Toilet Is Not A Trash Can

No Wipes in the Pipes - Only Flush the 3 P’s

Your toilet is designed to handle only human waste and toilet paper. Flushing anything other than toilet paper can clog pipes, damage equipment, and cause sewer backups and overflows that affect homes, streets, and waterways.

When non-biological items—especially wipes—are flushed, they often combine with fats, oils, and grease (FOG) poured down sinks and drains. Together, these materials form large blockages known as Fatbergs.


What Is a Fatberg?

A fatberg is a hardened mass of grease, wipes, and other flushed materials that stick to the inside of sewer pipes, lift stations, and water reclamation facilities. Fatbergs restrict wastewater flow and can cause sewage to back up into homes or spill into the environment. City crews respond multiple times each week to remove these blockages to prevent system failures. These issues are costly, dangerous, and completely preventable.

Only Flush the 3 P’s
✔ Pee
✔ Poo
✔ Toilet Paper

 
*** If it’s not one of the three P’s, it belongs in the trash ***

Do NOT Flush:

  • “Flushable” wipes (baby wipes, cleaning wipes, makeup wipes)
  • Facial tissue or paper towels
  • First-aid supplies
  • Latex or disposable gloves
  • Dental floss
  • Cotton swabs
  • Hair
  • Diapers
  • Slime or putty
  • Feminine hygiene products
  • Toys
  • Condoms or contraceptives
  • Product packaging
  • Cat litter
  • Toothpaste tubes
  • Contact lenses
  • Washcloths or towels
    And anything else that isn’t one of the three P’s
Why It Matters
Keeping wipes and trash out of toilets helps:
  • Prevent sewer backups and overflows
  • Protect local waterways and the environment
  • Reduce costly repairs and maintenance
  • Keep wastewater workers safe
When in doubt, throw it in the trash — not the toilet.

Learn More: Educational Resources

Do you want to learn more about why wipes and other items don’t belong in the sewer system? These trusted resources explain the issue in simple, relatable ways:

  • Flush the 3 P’s – Flush3P.org
    Educational resources focused on fatbergs and proper flushing habits.