What can I put in the sewer?
Everything you put down the sink or into the toilet enters the sewerage system and ends up at the sewage treatment plant. This plant is designed to treat sewage and produce reclaimed water. When you tip household cleaners, chemicals and waste down the sink or toilet, they can create environmental damage. Council is working hard to protect the place we live in and we need your help.
- Don't tip anything but water down the sink
- Don't use the toilet as a household rubbish bin
These are things you can and can't put down the sink or toilet.
| Substance
|
Acceptable? Yes/No | Problem
|
What to do with instead |
Waste water from washing up, laundry, bathing and other personal uses |
Yes |
|
|
Waste water from outside including washing windows, cars, driveways etc |
No |
Overloads the system |
Pour on the lawn or garden |
Milk (in small amounts) |
Yes |
|
Or pour into garden compost. It will break down. |
Yoghurt/dairy products |
No |
Blocks drain |
Put whole container into wheelie bin |
Fruit and vegetable waste |
No |
Blocks drain |
Either compost or put into wheelie bin |
Out of date juice |
Yes |
|
Or pour into garden compost. It will break down. |
Cooking oils and fats |
No |
Environmental damage |
Small amounts will actively compost |
Household paint |
No |
Environmental damage |
Use it all or hand in at Council tip |
Household cleaners |
No |
Environmental damage |
Use them up or follow instructions on package |
Toilet fresheners |
No |
Environmental damage |
Put into household rubbish in wheelie bin |
Other chemicals |
No |
Environmental damage |
Hand in at Chemical hazard store at Council tip |
Motor oil |
No |
Environmental damage |
Hand in at Council tip |
Pesticides |
No |
Environmental damage |
Hand in at Council tip |
Pills and medicines |
No |
Environmental damage |
Hand in to Chemist in original container |
Cosmetics and cotton buds |
No |
Block drains |
Use them up and put the whole container in the wheelie bin |
Condoms |
No |
Block drains |
Put into household rubbish in wheelie bin |
Disposable nappies |
No |
Block drains |
Put into household rubbish in wheelie bin |
Tampons or sanitary napkins |
No |
Block drains |
Put into household rubbish in wheelie bin |
Garden waste |
No |
Blocks drains |
Compost or put into greenwaste bin |
| Domestic Stormwater / Yard Drainage | No | Overloads the System | Drain to Stormwater Systems |
