Should I put toilet paper in airplane toilets?
During a recent international flight my 4 year old daughter informed me that I shouldn't put toilet paper in the toilet but should instead use the bin provided.
My gut told me she was wrong, however I accepted this could just be bias due to my Western upbringing since I am well aware that there are plenty of places in the world where you indeed don't put toilet paper in the toilet.
Keen to make sure she's being brought up right I decide to see if I could find out if she was correct or not before challenging her on it, however the best guidance I could find was the following 2 signs which seem to support her stance, but are too ambiguous to be definitive:
A sign on the toilet lid which shows that cups and some sort of tissue should not be disposed of in the toilet:
A sign near the bin which shows that a wide variety of items, including some sort of tissue should be disposed of in the bin:
There were no further signs that explicitly stated if the tissue depicted in the signs was toilet tissue or not, or what should be done with it. Further more I couldn't find anything in the literature provided at my seat and I decided not to ask the flight attendant but to instead wait until I was home to ask strangers on the internet.
What is the proper way to dispose of toilet roll on an airplane?
air-travel local-customs hygiene toilets
asked Dec 11 at 21:47
RyanfaeScotland
325210
|
show 7 more comments
During a recent international flight my 4 year old daughter informed me that I shouldn't put toilet paper in the toilet but should instead use the bin provided.
My gut told me she was wrong, however I accepted this could just be bias due to my Western upbringing since I am well aware that there are plenty of places in the world where you indeed don't put toilet paper in the toilet.
Keen to make sure she's being brought up right I decide to see if I could find out if she was correct or not before challenging her on it, however the best guidance I could find was the following 2 signs which seem to support her stance, but are too ambiguous to be definitive:
A sign on the toilet lid which shows that cups and some sort of tissue should not be disposed of in the toilet:
A sign near the bin which shows that a wide variety of items, including some sort of tissue should be disposed of in the bin:
There were no further signs that explicitly stated if the tissue depicted in the signs was toilet tissue or not, or what should be done with it. Further more I couldn't find anything in the literature provided at my seat and I decided not to ask the flight attendant but to instead wait until I was home to ask strangers on the internet.
What is the proper way to dispose of toilet roll on an airplane?
air-travel local-customs hygiene toilets
asked Dec 11 at 21:47
RyanfaeScotland
325210
8
Toilet paper is designed to break up in water. Paper cups, paper towels, paper napkins, and most other kinds of paper are not. This isn't exclusive to airplane toilets: never flush any paper other than toilet paper down a toilet or you risk a clog.
– choster
Dec 12 at 0:25
14
Alas, the ‘Okay, we’re all adults here’ meme seems to have died.
– Jan
Dec 12 at 1:59
2
@RyanfaeScotland toiler paper should go in airplane toilet. However, it's interesting how your child interpreted the sign, and encouraging that it tries to follow the rules. She was wrong, but even you were unsure. Make sure to tell her the news in a kind and gentle way, when this topic comes up again. Explaining the signs to her and the methodology you used to extract the information from the signs (don't tell her that you posted here:)), so that the child can compare and pinpoint the wrong step it made.
– gsamaras
Dec 12 at 9:51
23
"I decided not to ask the flight attendant but to instead wait until I was home to ask strangers on the internet" - love it!
– AndyT
Dec 12 at 10:10
2
@choster, I don't feel your comment adds to the discussion. Even though you are correct, as I've pointed out in my question there are still plenty of toilets in the world where despite this property of toilet roll it still shouldn't be flushed down the toilet as it risks a clog.
– RyanfaeScotland
Dec 12 at 10:48
|
show 7 more comments
During a recent international flight my 4 year old daughter informed me that I shouldn't put toilet paper in the toilet but should instead use the bin provided.
My gut told me she was wrong, however I accepted this could just be bias due to my Western upbringing since I am well aware that there are plenty of places in the world where you indeed don't put toilet paper in the toilet.
Keen to make sure she's being brought up right I decide to see if I could find out if she was correct or not before challenging her on it, however the best guidance I could find was the following 2 signs which seem to support her stance, but are too ambiguous to be definitive:
A sign on the toilet lid which shows that cups and some sort of tissue should not be disposed of in the toilet:
A sign near the bin which shows that a wide variety of items, including some sort of tissue should be disposed of in the bin:
There were no further signs that explicitly stated if the tissue depicted in the signs was toilet tissue or not, or what should be done with it. Further more I couldn't find anything in the literature provided at my seat and I decided not to ask the flight attendant but to instead wait until I was home to ask strangers on the internet.
What is the proper way to dispose of toilet roll on an airplane?
air-travel local-customs hygiene toilets
asked Dec 11 at 21:47
RyanfaeScotland
325210
During a recent international flight my 4 year old daughter informed me that I shouldn't put toilet paper in the toilet but should instead use the bin provided.
My gut told me she was wrong, however I accepted this could just be bias due to my Western upbringing since I am well aware that there are plenty of places in the world where you indeed don't put toilet paper in the toilet.
Keen to make sure she's being brought up right I decide to see if I could find out if she was correct or not before challenging her on it, however the best guidance I could find was the following 2 signs which seem to support her stance, but are too ambiguous to be definitive:
A sign on the toilet lid which shows that cups and some sort of tissue should not be disposed of in the toilet:
A sign near the bin which shows that a wide variety of items, including some sort of tissue should be disposed of in the bin:
There were no further signs that explicitly stated if the tissue depicted in the signs was toilet tissue or not, or what should be done with it. Further more I couldn't find anything in the literature provided at my seat and I decided not to ask the flight attendant but to instead wait until I was home to ask strangers on the internet.
What is the proper way to dispose of toilet roll on an airplane?
air-travel local-customs hygiene toilets
air-travel local-customs hygiene toilets
asked Dec 11 at 21:47
RyanfaeScotland
325210
asked Dec 11 at 21:47
RyanfaeScotland
325210
edited Dec 12 at 22:21
asked Dec 11 at 21:47
RyanfaeScotland
325210
asked Dec 11 at 21:47
RyanfaeScotland
325210
asked Dec 11 at 21:47
RyanfaeScotland
325210
325210
8
Toilet paper is designed to break up in water. Paper cups, paper towels, paper napkins, and most other kinds of paper are not. This isn't exclusive to airplane toilets: never flush any paper other than toilet paper down a toilet or you risk a clog.
– choster
Dec 12 at 0:25
14
Alas, the ‘Okay, we’re all adults here’ meme seems to have died.
– Jan
Dec 12 at 1:59
2
@RyanfaeScotland toiler paper should go in airplane toilet. However, it's interesting how your child interpreted the sign, and encouraging that it tries to follow the rules. She was wrong, but even you were unsure. Make sure to tell her the news in a kind and gentle way, when this topic comes up again. Explaining the signs to her and the methodology you used to extract the information from the signs (don't tell her that you posted here:)), so that the child can compare and pinpoint the wrong step it made.
– gsamaras
Dec 12 at 9:51
23
"I decided not to ask the flight attendant but to instead wait until I was home to ask strangers on the internet" - love it!
– AndyT
Dec 12 at 10:10
2
@choster, I don't feel your comment adds to the discussion. Even though you are correct, as I've pointed out in my question there are still plenty of toilets in the world where despite this property of toilet roll it still shouldn't be flushed down the toilet as it risks a clog.
– RyanfaeScotland
Dec 12 at 10:48
|
show 7 more comments
8
Toilet paper is designed to break up in water. Paper cups, paper towels, paper napkins, and most other kinds of paper are not. This isn't exclusive to airplane toilets: never flush any paper other than toilet paper down a toilet or you risk a clog.
– choster
Dec 12 at 0:25
14
Alas, the ‘Okay, we’re all adults here’ meme seems to have died.
– Jan
Dec 12 at 1:59
2
@RyanfaeScotland toiler paper should go in airplane toilet. However, it's interesting how your child interpreted the sign, and encouraging that it tries to follow the rules. She was wrong, but even you were unsure. Make sure to tell her the news in a kind and gentle way, when this topic comes up again. Explaining the signs to her and the methodology you used to extract the information from the signs (don't tell her that you posted here:)), so that the child can compare and pinpoint the wrong step it made.
– gsamaras
Dec 12 at 9:51
23
"I decided not to ask the flight attendant but to instead wait until I was home to ask strangers on the internet" - love it!
– AndyT
Dec 12 at 10:10
2
@choster, I don't feel your comment adds to the discussion. Even though you are correct, as I've pointed out in my question there are still plenty of toilets in the world where despite this property of toilet roll it still shouldn't be flushed down the toilet as it risks a clog.
– RyanfaeScotland
Dec 12 at 10:48
8
8
Toilet paper is designed to break up in water. Paper cups, paper towels, paper napkins, and most other kinds of paper are not. This isn't exclusive to airplane toilets: never flush any paper other than toilet paper down a toilet or you risk a clog.
– choster
Dec 12 at 0:25
Toilet paper is designed to break up in water. Paper cups, paper towels, paper napkins, and most other kinds of paper are not. This isn't exclusive to airplane toilets: never flush any paper other than toilet paper down a toilet or you risk a clog.
– choster
Dec 12 at 0:25
14
14
Alas, the ‘Okay, we’re all adults here’ meme seems to have died.
– Jan
Dec 12 at 1:59
Alas, the ‘Okay, we’re all adults here’ meme seems to have died.
– Jan
Dec 12 at 1:59
2
2
@RyanfaeScotland toiler paper should go in airplane toilet. However, it's interesting how your child interpreted the sign, and encouraging that it tries to follow the rules. She was wrong, but even you were unsure. Make sure to tell her the news in a kind and gentle way, when this topic comes up again. Explaining the signs to her and the methodology you used to extract the information from the signs (don't tell her that you posted here:)), so that the child can compare and pinpoint the wrong step it made.
– gsamaras
Dec 12 at 9:51
@RyanfaeScotland toiler paper should go in airplane toilet. However, it's interesting how your child interpreted the sign, and encouraging that it tries to follow the rules. She was wrong, but even you were unsure. Make sure to tell her the news in a kind and gentle way, when this topic comes up again. Explaining the signs to her and the methodology you used to extract the information from the signs (don't tell her that you posted here:)), so that the child can compare and pinpoint the wrong step it made.
– gsamaras
Dec 12 at 9:51
23
23
"I decided not to ask the flight attendant but to instead wait until I was home to ask strangers on the internet" - love it!
– AndyT
Dec 12 at 10:10
"I decided not to ask the flight attendant but to instead wait until I was home to ask strangers on the internet" - love it!
– AndyT
Dec 12 at 10:10
2
2
@choster, I don't feel your comment adds to the discussion. Even though you are correct, as I've pointed out in my question there are still plenty of toilets in the world where despite this property of toilet roll it still shouldn't be flushed down the toilet as it risks a clog.
– RyanfaeScotland
Dec 12 at 10:48
@choster, I don't feel your comment adds to the discussion. Even though you are correct, as I've pointed out in my question there are still plenty of toilets in the world where despite this property of toilet roll it still shouldn't be flushed down the toilet as it risks a clog.
– RyanfaeScotland
Dec 12 at 10:48
|
show 7 more comments
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
Should I put toilet roll in airplane toilets?
YES. Airplane toilets are designed to take the toilet paper provided by the airline.
The sign is to inform you that nothing other than the provided toilet paper should be put in the toilet, including the paper towels used to dry your hands.
Source: Millions of flight miles and articles like 16 Tips on How to Use and Leave a Lavatory Aboard an Airplane No. 4 & 8
Key point from the comments: toilet paper is engineered for it's specific setting. The tp provided by the airline is designed to be flushed in airplane lavatories.
answered Dec 11 at 21:55
Johns-305
27.9k5695
22
Further source: if I bought an airplane for literally milions of dollars, I'd expect it not to get downtime after every damn flight because someone (obviously) put the toilet paper in the toilet.
– DonQuiKong
Dec 12 at 7:36
5
@RyanfaeScotland It's not at all 'interpretation'. That's just how Western toilets are designed to work. Flushing toilet paper is the near universal expectation for practical and hygenic reasons. It's the same situation for marine and vehicle toilet systems. Toilet paper is specifically engineered for such situations.
– Johns-305
Dec 12 at 12:37
2
@RyanfaeScotland the problem is not whether it is adhered to, but whether something adheres to it!
– rackandboneman
Dec 12 at 13:05
3
@usr-local-ΕΨΗΕΛΩΝ No, paper towels are biodegradable, too -- they'll rot when left in the ground. The point is that they don't turn to mush just by being put in water.
– David Richerby
Dec 12 at 14:40
8
@RyanfaeScotland Come on. You have 300 people sharing five or six toilets for ten hours on a long-haul flight. If toilet paper blocked those toilets, they'd all be blocked after an hour or two, unless there were extremely clear notices about putting toilet paper in the bin. The fact that you can't reach the bin while sitting on the toilet and that the bin lid isn't smeared with excrement are also clear indication that the bin is not used for toilet paper disposal by any significant number of passengers.
– David Richerby
Dec 12 at 14:44
|
show 13 more comments
A typical lavatory will often contain two paper products.
Toilet paper is intended for cleaning your nether regions. It is soft (usually!) and is not intended to retain any strength when wet. It is actually designed to turn to flushable mush on contact with water, and to essentially disintegrate the longer it stays in water. As such, the toilet paper on the plane is safe to put down the toilet.
Paper hand towels on the other hand are usually less soft. They have a high fibre content, and are designed so that they do not lose significant strength when wet. As a result, paper towels will easily block up a toilet, and must not be flushed. This is what the sign is referring to which your daughter spotted.
Toilet users will often also use other disposable cleaning products. Tissues, wet-wipes, sanitary towels and so on are all designed to retain strength when wet, and again will easily block up toilets. It's worth noting here that even so-called "flushable" wipes have been found on testing to retain significant strength and to be a very real problem for waste disposal systems. The sign also relates to these.
Chemical toilets in caravans and boats have smaller-diameter pipes, generally with a macerator to break up "solids", and regular toilet paper can block this very easily. Some people use regular toilet paper and provide a bin. Alternatively it is possible to buy special toilet paper which breaks down much more readily when wet. Coming back to your airplane toilet, if the airplane toilet needs this special toilet paper, you can assume that this is what the airline provides. If for some reason you have your own toilet paper though, you might want to be cautious and dispose of that in the bin.
Regarding your point about toilets in other countries which cannot take regular toilet paper, the mush of wet toilet paper can still clog up narrow pipes, especially with longer pipe runs which may not have enough gradient to keep things moving. In some countries with smaller-diameter or lower-quality sewer pipes, toilets therefore have a bin for toilet paper. (In Europe, Greece is the main place you would see this.) Whether modern sewage systems genuinely still have problems with toilet paper is unclear - it is entirely possible that the previous technical issues have set up a tradition.
edited Dec 13 at 1:37
Henning Makholm
40.3k697158
answered Dec 12 at 13:26
Graham
60027
add a comment |
Understand that toilet paper is designed to be just solid enough to get the job done, but not so solid that it cannot be broken down as waste later once it is wet (this is a general rule for paper waste not specific to airplanes). Too many people think that paper is paper and just flush whatever down, not realizing that it can clog the system (paper towels, for instance don't readily break down when wet by design).
As proof that you can flush toilet paper, here's a video of test engineers for the A380 system flushing toilet paper to test the waste system (at 130MPH!). Note how the toilet paper is totally pulverized by the time it reaches the tank.
answered Dec 12 at 15:43
Machavity
1,131316
add a comment |
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3 Answers
3
active
oldest
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3 Answers
3
active
oldest
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active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
Should I put toilet roll in airplane toilets?
YES. Airplane toilets are designed to take the toilet paper provided by the airline.
The sign is to inform you that nothing other than the provided toilet paper should be put in the toilet, including the paper towels used to dry your hands.
Source: Millions of flight miles and articles like 16 Tips on How to Use and Leave a Lavatory Aboard an Airplane No. 4 & 8
Key point from the comments: toilet paper is engineered for it's specific setting. The tp provided by the airline is designed to be flushed in airplane lavatories.
answered Dec 11 at 21:55
Johns-305
27.9k5695
22
Further source: if I bought an airplane for literally milions of dollars, I'd expect it not to get downtime after every damn flight because someone (obviously) put the toilet paper in the toilet.
– DonQuiKong
Dec 12 at 7:36
5
@RyanfaeScotland It's not at all 'interpretation'. That's just how Western toilets are designed to work. Flushing toilet paper is the near universal expectation for practical and hygenic reasons. It's the same situation for marine and vehicle toilet systems. Toilet paper is specifically engineered for such situations.
– Johns-305
Dec 12 at 12:37
2
@RyanfaeScotland the problem is not whether it is adhered to, but whether something adheres to it!
– rackandboneman
Dec 12 at 13:05
3
@usr-local-ΕΨΗΕΛΩΝ No, paper towels are biodegradable, too -- they'll rot when left in the ground. The point is that they don't turn to mush just by being put in water.
– David Richerby
Dec 12 at 14:40
8
@RyanfaeScotland Come on. You have 300 people sharing five or six toilets for ten hours on a long-haul flight. If toilet paper blocked those toilets, they'd all be blocked after an hour or two, unless there were extremely clear notices about putting toilet paper in the bin. The fact that you can't reach the bin while sitting on the toilet and that the bin lid isn't smeared with excrement are also clear indication that the bin is not used for toilet paper disposal by any significant number of passengers.
– David Richerby
Dec 12 at 14:44
|
show 13 more comments
Should I put toilet roll in airplane toilets?
YES. Airplane toilets are designed to take the toilet paper provided by the airline.
The sign is to inform you that nothing other than the provided toilet paper should be put in the toilet, including the paper towels used to dry your hands.
Source: Millions of flight miles and articles like 16 Tips on How to Use and Leave a Lavatory Aboard an Airplane No. 4 & 8
Key point from the comments: toilet paper is engineered for it's specific setting. The tp provided by the airline is designed to be flushed in airplane lavatories.
answered Dec 11 at 21:55
Johns-305
27.9k5695
22
Further source: if I bought an airplane for literally milions of dollars, I'd expect it not to get downtime after every damn flight because someone (obviously) put the toilet paper in the toilet.
– DonQuiKong
Dec 12 at 7:36
5
@RyanfaeScotland It's not at all 'interpretation'. That's just how Western toilets are designed to work. Flushing toilet paper is the near universal expectation for practical and hygenic reasons. It's the same situation for marine and vehicle toilet systems. Toilet paper is specifically engineered for such situations.
– Johns-305
Dec 12 at 12:37
2
@RyanfaeScotland the problem is not whether it is adhered to, but whether something adheres to it!
– rackandboneman
Dec 12 at 13:05
3
@usr-local-ΕΨΗΕΛΩΝ No, paper towels are biodegradable, too -- they'll rot when left in the ground. The point is that they don't turn to mush just by being put in water.
– David Richerby
Dec 12 at 14:40
8
@RyanfaeScotland Come on. You have 300 people sharing five or six toilets for ten hours on a long-haul flight. If toilet paper blocked those toilets, they'd all be blocked after an hour or two, unless there were extremely clear notices about putting toilet paper in the bin. The fact that you can't reach the bin while sitting on the toilet and that the bin lid isn't smeared with excrement are also clear indication that the bin is not used for toilet paper disposal by any significant number of passengers.
– David Richerby
Dec 12 at 14:44
|
show 13 more comments
Should I put toilet roll in airplane toilets?
YES. Airplane toilets are designed to take the toilet paper provided by the airline.
The sign is to inform you that nothing other than the provided toilet paper should be put in the toilet, including the paper towels used to dry your hands.
Source: Millions of flight miles and articles like 16 Tips on How to Use and Leave a Lavatory Aboard an Airplane No. 4 & 8
Key point from the comments: toilet paper is engineered for it's specific setting. The tp provided by the airline is designed to be flushed in airplane lavatories.
answered Dec 11 at 21:55
Johns-305
27.9k5695
Should I put toilet roll in airplane toilets?
YES. Airplane toilets are designed to take the toilet paper provided by the airline.
The sign is to inform you that nothing other than the provided toilet paper should be put in the toilet, including the paper towels used to dry your hands.
Source: Millions of flight miles and articles like 16 Tips on How to Use and Leave a Lavatory Aboard an Airplane No. 4 & 8
Key point from the comments: toilet paper is engineered for it's specific setting. The tp provided by the airline is designed to be flushed in airplane lavatories.
answered Dec 11 at 21:55
Johns-305
27.9k5695
edited Dec 14 at 0:50
answered Dec 11 at 21:55
Johns-305
27.9k5695
answered Dec 11 at 21:55
Johns-305
27.9k5695
answered Dec 11 at 21:55
Johns-305
27.9k5695
27.9k5695
22
Further source: if I bought an airplane for literally milions of dollars, I'd expect it not to get downtime after every damn flight because someone (obviously) put the toilet paper in the toilet.
– DonQuiKong
Dec 12 at 7:36
5
@RyanfaeScotland It's not at all 'interpretation'. That's just how Western toilets are designed to work. Flushing toilet paper is the near universal expectation for practical and hygenic reasons. It's the same situation for marine and vehicle toilet systems. Toilet paper is specifically engineered for such situations.
– Johns-305
Dec 12 at 12:37
2
@RyanfaeScotland the problem is not whether it is adhered to, but whether something adheres to it!
– rackandboneman
Dec 12 at 13:05
3
@usr-local-ΕΨΗΕΛΩΝ No, paper towels are biodegradable, too -- they'll rot when left in the ground. The point is that they don't turn to mush just by being put in water.
– David Richerby
Dec 12 at 14:40
8
@RyanfaeScotland Come on. You have 300 people sharing five or six toilets for ten hours on a long-haul flight. If toilet paper blocked those toilets, they'd all be blocked after an hour or two, unless there were extremely clear notices about putting toilet paper in the bin. The fact that you can't reach the bin while sitting on the toilet and that the bin lid isn't smeared with excrement are also clear indication that the bin is not used for toilet paper disposal by any significant number of passengers.
– David Richerby
Dec 12 at 14:44
|
show 13 more comments
22
Further source: if I bought an airplane for literally milions of dollars, I'd expect it not to get downtime after every damn flight because someone (obviously) put the toilet paper in the toilet.
– DonQuiKong
Dec 12 at 7:36
5
@RyanfaeScotland It's not at all 'interpretation'. That's just how Western toilets are designed to work. Flushing toilet paper is the near universal expectation for practical and hygenic reasons. It's the same situation for marine and vehicle toilet systems. Toilet paper is specifically engineered for such situations.
– Johns-305
Dec 12 at 12:37
2
@RyanfaeScotland the problem is not whether it is adhered to, but whether something adheres to it!
– rackandboneman
Dec 12 at 13:05
3
@usr-local-ΕΨΗΕΛΩΝ No, paper towels are biodegradable, too -- they'll rot when left in the ground. The point is that they don't turn to mush just by being put in water.
– David Richerby
Dec 12 at 14:40
8
@RyanfaeScotland Come on. You have 300 people sharing five or six toilets for ten hours on a long-haul flight. If toilet paper blocked those toilets, they'd all be blocked after an hour or two, unless there were extremely clear notices about putting toilet paper in the bin. The fact that you can't reach the bin while sitting on the toilet and that the bin lid isn't smeared with excrement are also clear indication that the bin is not used for toilet paper disposal by any significant number of passengers.
– David Richerby
Dec 12 at 14:44
22
22
Further source: if I bought an airplane for literally milions of dollars, I'd expect it not to get downtime after every damn flight because someone (obviously) put the toilet paper in the toilet.
– DonQuiKong
Dec 12 at 7:36
Further source: if I bought an airplane for literally milions of dollars, I'd expect it not to get downtime after every damn flight because someone (obviously) put the toilet paper in the toilet.
– DonQuiKong
Dec 12 at 7:36
5
5
@RyanfaeScotland It's not at all 'interpretation'. That's just how Western toilets are designed to work. Flushing toilet paper is the near universal expectation for practical and hygenic reasons. It's the same situation for marine and vehicle toilet systems. Toilet paper is specifically engineered for such situations.
– Johns-305
Dec 12 at 12:37
@RyanfaeScotland It's not at all 'interpretation'. That's just how Western toilets are designed to work. Flushing toilet paper is the near universal expectation for practical and hygenic reasons. It's the same situation for marine and vehicle toilet systems. Toilet paper is specifically engineered for such situations.
– Johns-305
Dec 12 at 12:37
2
2
@RyanfaeScotland the problem is not whether it is adhered to, but whether something adheres to it!
– rackandboneman
Dec 12 at 13:05
@RyanfaeScotland the problem is not whether it is adhered to, but whether something adheres to it!
– rackandboneman
Dec 12 at 13:05
3
3
@usr-local-ΕΨΗΕΛΩΝ No, paper towels are biodegradable, too -- they'll rot when left in the ground. The point is that they don't turn to mush just by being put in water.
– David Richerby
Dec 12 at 14:40
@usr-local-ΕΨΗΕΛΩΝ No, paper towels are biodegradable, too -- they'll rot when left in the ground. The point is that they don't turn to mush just by being put in water.
– David Richerby
Dec 12 at 14:40
8
8
@RyanfaeScotland Come on. You have 300 people sharing five or six toilets for ten hours on a long-haul flight. If toilet paper blocked those toilets, they'd all be blocked after an hour or two, unless there were extremely clear notices about putting toilet paper in the bin. The fact that you can't reach the bin while sitting on the toilet and that the bin lid isn't smeared with excrement are also clear indication that the bin is not used for toilet paper disposal by any significant number of passengers.
– David Richerby
Dec 12 at 14:44
@RyanfaeScotland Come on. You have 300 people sharing five or six toilets for ten hours on a long-haul flight. If toilet paper blocked those toilets, they'd all be blocked after an hour or two, unless there were extremely clear notices about putting toilet paper in the bin. The fact that you can't reach the bin while sitting on the toilet and that the bin lid isn't smeared with excrement are also clear indication that the bin is not used for toilet paper disposal by any significant number of passengers.
– David Richerby
Dec 12 at 14:44
|
show 13 more comments
A typical lavatory will often contain two paper products.
Toilet paper is intended for cleaning your nether regions. It is soft (usually!) and is not intended to retain any strength when wet. It is actually designed to turn to flushable mush on contact with water, and to essentially disintegrate the longer it stays in water. As such, the toilet paper on the plane is safe to put down the toilet.
Paper hand towels on the other hand are usually less soft. They have a high fibre content, and are designed so that they do not lose significant strength when wet. As a result, paper towels will easily block up a toilet, and must not be flushed. This is what the sign is referring to which your daughter spotted.
Toilet users will often also use other disposable cleaning products. Tissues, wet-wipes, sanitary towels and so on are all designed to retain strength when wet, and again will easily block up toilets. It's worth noting here that even so-called "flushable" wipes have been found on testing to retain significant strength and to be a very real problem for waste disposal systems. The sign also relates to these.
Chemical toilets in caravans and boats have smaller-diameter pipes, generally with a macerator to break up "solids", and regular toilet paper can block this very easily. Some people use regular toilet paper and provide a bin. Alternatively it is possible to buy special toilet paper which breaks down much more readily when wet. Coming back to your airplane toilet, if the airplane toilet needs this special toilet paper, you can assume that this is what the airline provides. If for some reason you have your own toilet paper though, you might want to be cautious and dispose of that in the bin.
Regarding your point about toilets in other countries which cannot take regular toilet paper, the mush of wet toilet paper can still clog up narrow pipes, especially with longer pipe runs which may not have enough gradient to keep things moving. In some countries with smaller-diameter or lower-quality sewer pipes, toilets therefore have a bin for toilet paper. (In Europe, Greece is the main place you would see this.) Whether modern sewage systems genuinely still have problems with toilet paper is unclear - it is entirely possible that the previous technical issues have set up a tradition.
edited Dec 13 at 1:37
Henning Makholm
40.3k697158
answered Dec 12 at 13:26
Graham
60027
add a comment |
A typical lavatory will often contain two paper products.
Toilet paper is intended for cleaning your nether regions. It is soft (usually!) and is not intended to retain any strength when wet. It is actually designed to turn to flushable mush on contact with water, and to essentially disintegrate the longer it stays in water. As such, the toilet paper on the plane is safe to put down the toilet.
Paper hand towels on the other hand are usually less soft. They have a high fibre content, and are designed so that they do not lose significant strength when wet. As a result, paper towels will easily block up a toilet, and must not be flushed. This is what the sign is referring to which your daughter spotted.
Toilet users will often also use other disposable cleaning products. Tissues, wet-wipes, sanitary towels and so on are all designed to retain strength when wet, and again will easily block up toilets. It's worth noting here that even so-called "flushable" wipes have been found on testing to retain significant strength and to be a very real problem for waste disposal systems. The sign also relates to these.
Chemical toilets in caravans and boats have smaller-diameter pipes, generally with a macerator to break up "solids", and regular toilet paper can block this very easily. Some people use regular toilet paper and provide a bin. Alternatively it is possible to buy special toilet paper which breaks down much more readily when wet. Coming back to your airplane toilet, if the airplane toilet needs this special toilet paper, you can assume that this is what the airline provides. If for some reason you have your own toilet paper though, you might want to be cautious and dispose of that in the bin.
Regarding your point about toilets in other countries which cannot take regular toilet paper, the mush of wet toilet paper can still clog up narrow pipes, especially with longer pipe runs which may not have enough gradient to keep things moving. In some countries with smaller-diameter or lower-quality sewer pipes, toilets therefore have a bin for toilet paper. (In Europe, Greece is the main place you would see this.) Whether modern sewage systems genuinely still have problems with toilet paper is unclear - it is entirely possible that the previous technical issues have set up a tradition.
edited Dec 13 at 1:37
Henning Makholm
40.3k697158
answered Dec 12 at 13:26
Graham
60027
add a comment |
A typical lavatory will often contain two paper products.
Toilet paper is intended for cleaning your nether regions. It is soft (usually!) and is not intended to retain any strength when wet. It is actually designed to turn to flushable mush on contact with water, and to essentially disintegrate the longer it stays in water. As such, the toilet paper on the plane is safe to put down the toilet.
Paper hand towels on the other hand are usually less soft. They have a high fibre content, and are designed so that they do not lose significant strength when wet. As a result, paper towels will easily block up a toilet, and must not be flushed. This is what the sign is referring to which your daughter spotted.
Toilet users will often also use other disposable cleaning products. Tissues, wet-wipes, sanitary towels and so on are all designed to retain strength when wet, and again will easily block up toilets. It's worth noting here that even so-called "flushable" wipes have been found on testing to retain significant strength and to be a very real problem for waste disposal systems. The sign also relates to these.
Chemical toilets in caravans and boats have smaller-diameter pipes, generally with a macerator to break up "solids", and regular toilet paper can block this very easily. Some people use regular toilet paper and provide a bin. Alternatively it is possible to buy special toilet paper which breaks down much more readily when wet. Coming back to your airplane toilet, if the airplane toilet needs this special toilet paper, you can assume that this is what the airline provides. If for some reason you have your own toilet paper though, you might want to be cautious and dispose of that in the bin.
Regarding your point about toilets in other countries which cannot take regular toilet paper, the mush of wet toilet paper can still clog up narrow pipes, especially with longer pipe runs which may not have enough gradient to keep things moving. In some countries with smaller-diameter or lower-quality sewer pipes, toilets therefore have a bin for toilet paper. (In Europe, Greece is the main place you would see this.) Whether modern sewage systems genuinely still have problems with toilet paper is unclear - it is entirely possible that the previous technical issues have set up a tradition.
edited Dec 13 at 1:37
Henning Makholm
40.3k697158
answered Dec 12 at 13:26
Graham
60027
A typical lavatory will often contain two paper products.
Toilet paper is intended for cleaning your nether regions. It is soft (usually!) and is not intended to retain any strength when wet. It is actually designed to turn to flushable mush on contact with water, and to essentially disintegrate the longer it stays in water. As such, the toilet paper on the plane is safe to put down the toilet.
Paper hand towels on the other hand are usually less soft. They have a high fibre content, and are designed so that they do not lose significant strength when wet. As a result, paper towels will easily block up a toilet, and must not be flushed. This is what the sign is referring to which your daughter spotted.
Toilet users will often also use other disposable cleaning products. Tissues, wet-wipes, sanitary towels and so on are all designed to retain strength when wet, and again will easily block up toilets. It's worth noting here that even so-called "flushable" wipes have been found on testing to retain significant strength and to be a very real problem for waste disposal systems. The sign also relates to these.
Chemical toilets in caravans and boats have smaller-diameter pipes, generally with a macerator to break up "solids", and regular toilet paper can block this very easily. Some people use regular toilet paper and provide a bin. Alternatively it is possible to buy special toilet paper which breaks down much more readily when wet. Coming back to your airplane toilet, if the airplane toilet needs this special toilet paper, you can assume that this is what the airline provides. If for some reason you have your own toilet paper though, you might want to be cautious and dispose of that in the bin.
Regarding your point about toilets in other countries which cannot take regular toilet paper, the mush of wet toilet paper can still clog up narrow pipes, especially with longer pipe runs which may not have enough gradient to keep things moving. In some countries with smaller-diameter or lower-quality sewer pipes, toilets therefore have a bin for toilet paper. (In Europe, Greece is the main place you would see this.) Whether modern sewage systems genuinely still have problems with toilet paper is unclear - it is entirely possible that the previous technical issues have set up a tradition.
edited Dec 13 at 1:37
Henning Makholm
40.3k697158
answered Dec 12 at 13:26
Graham
60027
edited Dec 13 at 1:37
Henning Makholm
40.3k697158
edited Dec 13 at 1:37
Henning Makholm
40.3k697158
edited Dec 13 at 1:37
Henning Makholm
40.3k697158
40.3k697158
answered Dec 12 at 13:26
Graham
60027
answered Dec 12 at 13:26
Graham
60027
answered Dec 12 at 13:26
Graham
60027
60027
add a comment |
add a comment |
Understand that toilet paper is designed to be just solid enough to get the job done, but not so solid that it cannot be broken down as waste later once it is wet (this is a general rule for paper waste not specific to airplanes). Too many people think that paper is paper and just flush whatever down, not realizing that it can clog the system (paper towels, for instance don't readily break down when wet by design).
As proof that you can flush toilet paper, here's a video of test engineers for the A380 system flushing toilet paper to test the waste system (at 130MPH!). Note how the toilet paper is totally pulverized by the time it reaches the tank.
answered Dec 12 at 15:43
Machavity
1,131316
add a comment |
Understand that toilet paper is designed to be just solid enough to get the job done, but not so solid that it cannot be broken down as waste later once it is wet (this is a general rule for paper waste not specific to airplanes). Too many people think that paper is paper and just flush whatever down, not realizing that it can clog the system (paper towels, for instance don't readily break down when wet by design).
As proof that you can flush toilet paper, here's a video of test engineers for the A380 system flushing toilet paper to test the waste system (at 130MPH!). Note how the toilet paper is totally pulverized by the time it reaches the tank.
answered Dec 12 at 15:43
Machavity
1,131316
add a comment |
Understand that toilet paper is designed to be just solid enough to get the job done, but not so solid that it cannot be broken down as waste later once it is wet (this is a general rule for paper waste not specific to airplanes). Too many people think that paper is paper and just flush whatever down, not realizing that it can clog the system (paper towels, for instance don't readily break down when wet by design).
As proof that you can flush toilet paper, here's a video of test engineers for the A380 system flushing toilet paper to test the waste system (at 130MPH!). Note how the toilet paper is totally pulverized by the time it reaches the tank.
answered Dec 12 at 15:43
Machavity
1,131316
Understand that toilet paper is designed to be just solid enough to get the job done, but not so solid that it cannot be broken down as waste later once it is wet (this is a general rule for paper waste not specific to airplanes). Too many people think that paper is paper and just flush whatever down, not realizing that it can clog the system (paper towels, for instance don't readily break down when wet by design).
As proof that you can flush toilet paper, here's a video of test engineers for the A380 system flushing toilet paper to test the waste system (at 130MPH!). Note how the toilet paper is totally pulverized by the time it reaches the tank.
answered Dec 12 at 15:43
Machavity
1,131316
answered Dec 12 at 15:43
Machavity
1,131316
answered Dec 12 at 15:43
Machavity
1,131316
answered Dec 12 at 15:43
Machavity
1,131316
1,131316
add a comment |
add a comment |
protected by Willeke♦ Dec 13 at 20:42
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8
Toilet paper is designed to break up in water. Paper cups, paper towels, paper napkins, and most other kinds of paper are not. This isn't exclusive to airplane toilets: never flush any paper other than toilet paper down a toilet or you risk a clog.
– choster
Dec 12 at 0:25
14
Alas, the ‘Okay, we’re all adults here’ meme seems to have died.
– Jan
Dec 12 at 1:59
2
@RyanfaeScotland toiler paper should go in airplane toilet. However, it's interesting how your child interpreted the sign, and encouraging that it tries to follow the rules. She was wrong, but even you were unsure. Make sure to tell her the news in a kind and gentle way, when this topic comes up again. Explaining the signs to her and the methodology you used to extract the information from the signs (don't tell her that you posted here:)), so that the child can compare and pinpoint the wrong step it made.
– gsamaras
Dec 12 at 9:51
23
"I decided not to ask the flight attendant but to instead wait until I was home to ask strangers on the internet" - love it!
– AndyT
Dec 12 at 10:10
2
@choster, I don't feel your comment adds to the discussion. Even though you are correct, as I've pointed out in my question there are still plenty of toilets in the world where despite this property of toilet roll it still shouldn't be flushed down the toilet as it risks a clog.
– RyanfaeScotland
Dec 12 at 10:48