Why 40% of UK Women Still Flush Period Products (And How to Stop)
Here's an uncomfortable truth: despite decades of "do not flush" symbols on tampon boxes, millions of period products are still flushed down UK toilets every single day.
Research shows that 44% of women who flush tampons know they shouldn't — but do it anyway. So what's really going on? And more importantly, how do we change it?
This isn't about blame. It's about understanding the real reasons behind flushing behaviour — and finding practical solutions that actually work.
The Numbers Don't Lie
Every day in the UK:
- 2.5 million tampons are flushed
- 1.4 million pads are flushed
- 700,000 panty liners are flushed
That's nearly 4 million period products entering our sewer system daily — adding up to 1.5–2 billion per year.
But here's where it gets interesting. Research by phs Group surveyed over 2,000 women and found two distinct groups:
The Unaware (56%): More than half of women who flush tampons don't realise they shouldn't. They assume that because it goes down, it must be fine.
The Aware-But-Do-It-Anyway (44%): Nearly half know flushing is wrong — and do it anyway.
That second group is the one we need to understand. Because if knowledge alone doesn't change behaviour, what does?
Why People Flush (Even When They Know Better)
Let's be honest about the real reasons. None of them make someone a bad person — they're entirely understandable human responses to an awkward situation.
1. Embarrassment and Shame
Period stigma is still very real. Despite progress in recent years, many people feel embarrassed handling used period products — especially in shared spaces.
Flushing makes the product disappear instantly. No wrapper rustling. No bin lid opening. No evidence left behind.
For someone feeling self-conscious — whether at work, at a partner's house, or in a public toilet — flushing feels like the most discreet option.
2. Lack of Bins
This is a practical barrier that's often overlooked.
Many public toilets don't have sanitary bins in cubicles. Some workplace bathrooms expect people to carry used products to a communal bin outside the cubicle. Festival toilets, pub loos, older buildings — proper disposal facilities are far from universal.
When there's no bin within reach, flushing becomes the path of least resistance.
3. Habit
For many people, flushing was learned behaviour — passed down without question.
"That's just what you do."
If you've been flushing for 20 years, breaking the habit takes conscious effort. It's not that people don't care; it's that autopilot kicks in.
4. The "Out of Sight, Out of Mind" Effect
When you flush, the product disappears. Problem solved — or so it seems.
The consequences (blocked pipes, fatbergs, beach pollution) happen somewhere else, to someone else, at some other time. The disconnect between action and impact makes it easy to minimise.
5. Confusion About What's Actually Flushable
Product packaging hasn't always been clear. Some people genuinely believe that non-applicator tampons are fine to flush because they're "just cotton." Others think organic products are biodegradable enough to flush.
The reality? No period product is designed to be flushed. Not tampons, not pads, not liners, not applicators — organic or otherwise. They're engineered to absorb and hold their shape, which is the opposite of what you want in a sewer system.
What Happens When You Flush
A quick reality check on where those products actually go.
Your Pipes
Tampons expand when wet. Pads swell. Both can snag on pipe joints, accumulating over time until water can't flow. The result: backed-up drains, overflowing toilets, and plumber bills.
The Sewer Network
Products that make it past your home enter the public sewer system. Here they combine with fats, oils, grease, and wet wipes to form fatbergs — massive blockages that can weigh as much as a blue whale.
UK water companies spend an estimated £100 million every year clearing sewer blockages. Thames Water alone removes 75,000 blockages annually at a cost of £18 million.
Rivers and Beaches
When sewers overflow, untreated sewage — including period products — spills into rivers and coastal waters.
Period products are now the fifth most common item found on European beaches, more prevalent than straws or coffee cups. The Marine Conservation Society reports 4.8 pieces of menstrual waste per 100 metres of beach cleaned.
The Long Game
Conventional pads contain up to 90% plastic. They take 500–800 years to break down — and even then, they simply fragment into microplastics that enter the food chain.
How to Actually Stop Flushing
Knowing the facts is one thing. Changing behaviour is another. Here's what actually works.
1. Make Binning as Easy as Flushing
The key insight: flushing wins because it's quick, discreet, and the product disappears.
FabLittleBag was designed specifically to match those benefits:
- Opens with one hand — no fumbling when you need your other hand free
- Opaque — no one can see the contents
- Seals shut — contains odour and prevents leaks
- Compact — fits in a pocket, bag, or kit for disposal anywhere
- Quick — wrap, seal, bin. Done.
When binning is just as easy and discreet as flushing, the choice becomes obvious.
2. Keep Disposal Bags Within Reach
Habit change is easier when you remove friction. If you have to hunt for a disposal solution, you're more likely to default to old behaviour.
Keep FabLittleBags:
- In your bathroom at home
- In your handbag or work bag
- In your gym kit
- In your desk drawer
- In your travel toiletries
When the right option is always within reach, it becomes the automatic choice.
3. Reframe the Moment
Instead of thinking "I have to bin this," try "I'm choosing not to contribute to beach pollution."
The mental shift from obligation to agency makes a difference. You're not following rules — you're making a decision that aligns with your values.
4. Break the Autopilot
Habits run on autopilot. To break them, you need to insert a moment of conscious thought.
Try this: put a small visual reminder on the inside of your bathroom cabinet door or on the toilet roll holder. Something simple like a small sticker or note that says "Bin it." That pause is often enough to interrupt the automatic flush.
5. Normalise the Conversation
The more we talk openly about period disposal, the less embarrassment there is around it.
If you're comfortable doing so, mention it to friends. Share what you've learned. The goal isn't to shame anyone — it's to spread awareness that this is something we can all do better.
What Venues and Workplaces Can Do
Individual behaviour change is important, but environment matters too. If you manage toilets in a workplace, school, sports club, pub, hotel, or public venue, you have a direct role to play.
Provide Bins in Every Cubicle
This sounds obvious, but it's not universal. Every toilet cubicle used by people who menstruate should have a sanitary bin within arm's reach — not outside the cubicle, not down the hall, not "in the accessible toilet."
Stock Disposal Bags
Having FabLittleBag dispensers in cubicles actively encourages proper disposal. It shows that you've thought about the experience and provided a solution.
Use Clear Signage
A simple, friendly sign can make a big difference. Avoid lecturing — go for something like:
"Please bin period products — even tampons. Our pipes (and the planet) will thank you!"
Train Cleaning Staff
Make sure anyone responsible for maintaining toilets understands why proper disposal matters and how to encourage it.
Join the Period Supportive Movement
At FabLittleBag, we work with workplaces, schools, and sports clubs through our Period Supportive Movementinitiative — helping organisations create period-positive environments that support both people and the planet.
Interested in bulk orders or workplace solutions? Get in touch at hello@fablittlebag.com.
Talking to Others About This
Maybe you've learned something from this article that you want to share. Here's how to bring it up without making people defensive.
Lead with Facts, Not Judgement
"Did you know 2.5 million tampons are flushed every day in the UK?" is a conversation starter. "You shouldn't be flushing tampons" is a conversation ender.
Share the Impact
Most people don't know about fatbergs, beach pollution, or the 500-year decomposition timeline. When they learn the consequences, many want to change.
Offer a Solution
Don't just point out the problem — share what works. "I started using these disposal bags and it's actually easier than I expected" is more helpful than "You really need to stop flushing."
Be Patient
Habits take time to change. If someone's been flushing for years, they won't switch overnight. Progress matters more than perfection.
The Bigger Picture
Converting flushers to binners isn't just about individual behaviour change. It's about:
- Protecting infrastructure — £100 million a year in sewer repairs affects everyone's water bills
- Protecting waterways — cleaner rivers and beaches benefit entire communities
- Reducing plastic pollution — keeping period products out of the ocean protects marine ecosystems
- Normalising periods — when we can talk openly about disposal, we reduce shame overall
Every tampon binned instead of flushed is one less product in our sewers, one less potential blockage, one less piece of waste on our beaches.
Small actions, multiplied by millions of people, add up to real change.
Start Today
You don't need to be perfect. You just need to start.
Step 1: Get some FabLittleBags — keep them where you'll use them.
Step 2: Next time you're in a bathroom, pause before flushing. Make the conscious choice to bin.
Step 3: If you manage toilets anywhere — home, work, or a venue — make sure there are bins and disposal bags available.
Step 4: Share what you've learned. The more people know, the faster things change.
Ready to make the switch? Shop FabLittleBag — one-handed opening, seal-shut closure, made from sustainable materials.
Want to bring FabLittleBag to your workplace, school, or venue? Contact us at hello@fablittlebag.com