What not to flush down toilets, sinks and drains

Anything else can lead to sewer back-ups and blockages in the system.

The only things that are okay to flush down the toilet are pee, poo and toilet paper.

Keep these items out of your toilets, sink and drains

Protect your home and our wastewater system against costly repairs by keeping these items out of your toilet, sinks

and drains.

Wipes, paper towel and facial tissue

Wipes that claim to be flushable aren’t. Flushable wipes retain their shape and strength, and don’t’ break down in pipes.
Paper towel, facial tissue (Kleenex) and serviettes also don’t break down like toilet paper and will block your pipes.
Bag wipes, paper towel and any items used as a toilet paper and put in your black cart. They do not belong in your green or blue bins.

Bathroom items

Dispose of these items in your garbage:

Sanitary pads, tampons and applicators
Diapers, wet wipes, rags, bandages
Dental floss
Cotton swabs, condoms, cosmetics

Hair

Hair build-up in our treatment plants can result in equipment being shut down for manual cleaning. Compost hair in your green bin, or it can also go in your garbage.

Fats, oils and grease (FOG)

Fats, oils and grease can build up in your pipes, restricting flow and leading to blockages in the system.

Always wipe pans and scrape dishes before rinsing them.
Put up to two litres of cooking oil, fats, sauces, drippings and grease in your green cart for composting.
Solidify grease by letting it cool down. Mix oil with paper towel and put in a certified compostable bag to go in your green cart.
Watch the Report to Calgarians about FOG

Medication

Take unwanted medication to a pharmacy for disposal. Flushing pills and medication can be harmful to the environment.

Household hazardous waste

Cleaners, disinfectant, chemicals and paint thinners are considered household hazardous waste and should be taken to a household hazardous waste drop-off locations for safe disposal.