Don't rush to flush

Don't Rush to Flush posters on a wall with a toilet in the middle with toilet paper piled into it.

In the bathroom

There is no substitute for toilet paper! Don’t be tempted to flush alternatives such as wet wipes, tissues, paper towels or rags. These items simply don’t break down easily and may block your sewerage pipes, which could result in a costly plumbing bill. If you do need to use an alternative to toilet paper such as tissues or wet wipes, wrap them in plastic and place them in the bin.

Sewage overflows can be extremely damaging to your property and are expensive to repair. Residents are responsible for the costs of any blockages on their property. If you dispose of things the right way, you’ll reduce the risk of damaging your sewerage pipes, Council’s sewerage network and the environment, as it could impact our waterways. Council spends around $2.4 million every year clearing blocked pipes in the sewerage network.

Remember only toilet paper, pee and poo should go down the loo!

In the kitchen

Collect solid food waste, coffee grinds and tea leaves and put them in the garbage bin or compost.

Place cooking oil, grease or fat in a sealed container and put it in the bin. After cooking, wipe the frying pan with a paper towel and place it in the bin. Never pour any of these items down the sink.

In the garden

Put weed killers, fuels and engine oils in a plastic container and take them to one of our local waste disposal facilities. For information on household chemical drop off days, please see Paint and chemical disposal.

Chemicals that are sprayed or tipped on the ground can be absorbed by household pipes and can affect drinking water.

In the garage and laundry

Chemicals, paint and cleaning products can corrode the pipes on your property and in our network. This can lead to expensive repair bills.

Place unused chemicals, paint and cleaning products in a plastic container and take them to one of our local waste disposal facilities. For information on household chemical drop off days, please see Paint and chemical disposal.

Betty Wipe

Our Betty Wipe video looks at the problems that wet wipes can cause. 

Wet wipes, flushable wipes, baby wipes and makeup wipes may flush down your toilet easily, but they don’t break down like toilet paper. They can block pipes and create costly plumbing problems for residents. We spend around $140,000 every year clearing blocked pipes in the sewerage network. Residents are responsible for the costs of any blockages on their property.

Betty Wipe video transcript

Dwayne Pipe

Our Dwayne Pipe video looks at what can be safely tipped down the sink. You can find out how to dispose of hazardous chemicals through our waste disposal services.

Dwayne Pipe video transcript

Ben Spiller

Our Ben Spiller video focuses on the correct way to dispose of fuel and oil. It shows you how the incorrect disposal of fuel and oil could contaminate our drinking water.

Ben Spiller video transcript

You can find out how to dispose of hazardous chemicals through our waste disposal services. For more information, please download the How to avoid chemical contamination of your water supply factsheet (PDF 127 KB).

We have posters and a colouring in sheet available to download to help share information about the correct disposal of waste.

For more details, please read through the information below or download our Don't Rush to Flush Guide (PDF 44 KB).