Your Septic System Is Not a Garbage Can

Garbage Cans and Septics are two different things: Most people know they shouldn’t flush wipes, paper towels, or feminine products.

But candy wrappers?

Yes. Dave has found those, too. 😂

Your septic system is designed to handle wastewater, human waste, and septic-safe toilet paper. It is not an underground garbage can for anything someone doesn’t feel like carrying to the trash.

If It Flushes, That Doesn’t Mean It Belongs

Toilets are surprisingly talented. They can successfully flush many things that have no business entering a septic system.

Unfortunately, once an item disappears from the toilet bowl, it hasn’t truly disappeared. It has simply become Dave’s problem.

Items that should never be flushed include:

• Baby wipes and “flushable” wipes

• Paper towels and tissues

• Feminine hygiene products

• Diapers

• Dental floss

• Cotton swabs and cotton balls

• Cigarette butts

• Food and grease

• Medication

• Candy wrappers and other garbage

Unlike toilet paper, these items may not break down properly. They can collect inside the tank, become tangled, restrict flow, clog components, and contribute to backups or expensive repairs.

Yes, Someone Flushed Candy Wrappers

We don’t know whether someone was hiding the evidence, avoiding the trash can, or simply having a questionable moment.

What we do know is that candy wrappers do not dissolve because you flush them.

They remain inside the septic system, where they add to the solid waste and wait for the next pumping appointment.

Dave Says: “If you’re hiding the evidence from Mom, don’t send it to me.”

What About the Kitchen Sink?

Your kitchen drain should not be treated like a garbage can, either.

Grease, cooking oil, coffee grounds, food scraps, and other kitchen waste can cause clogs and add unnecessary solids to your septic tank. Even if you have a garbage disposal, the ground-up food still travels into the septic system.

A garbage disposal chops food into smaller pieces. It does not make the food disappear.

Follow the Simple Rule

Before flushing or pouring something down a drain, ask yourself:

“Is this wastewater, human waste, or septic-safe toilet paper?”

If the answer is no, it probably belongs somewhere else.

Dave Says: “Your septic tank is not a garbage can with plumbing.”

Keeping trash out of your septic system is one of the easiest ways to prevent clogs, backups, unnecessary buildup, and unexpected repair bills.

If your drains are slow, your toilets are gurgling, or your septic system has been receiving the household garbage, contact Elsing Septic. Dave has seen it before—but he would really prefer that you use the trash can.