Why are there trash cans in toilets? Can toilet paper be flushed down the toilet directly? 廁所為何有垃圾桶？

“Why is there a trash bin in the toilet?”
Many foreigers in Taiwan are often puzzled when they see trash bins inside public or residential toilets. In most countries, it’s common practice to flush toilet paper down the toilet. However, in Taiwan, people usually throw used toilet paper into a trash bin instead.

According to the National Land Administration of the Ministry of the Interior, Taiwan’s sewage system coverage rate is not very high. Although the government began promoting the policy of “flushing used toilet paper directly into the toilet instead of throwing it in the trash” in 2008, many Taiwanese still prefer to use trash bins to avoid toilet blockages and excessive waste in the drainage system. As a result, both public and household toilets in Taiwan commonly have trash bins.

Can toilet paper be flushed down the toilet?
Yes, but with caution.

  1. Not all types of paper can be flushed.
    For example, toilet paper and facial tissue are different. Toilet paper is made from short fibers that easily disintegrate in water, so it generally won’t clog the toilet.
    Facial tissues, on the other hand, are designed to wipe away oils and dirt from the face. They are made from long fibers and contain wet-strength additives that make them resistant to tearing when wet — which also means they do not break down easily in water and should not be flushed. Most toilet paper and tissue packaging will indicate whether the paper is flushable (as shown in the attached example).
  2. In some older buildings or apartments, the toilet pipes can easily become clogged if the system is not regularly cleaned or pumped. In severe cases, it may even be necessary to drain and clean the septic tank to resolve the blockage.
  3. When a residence is renovated and the bathroom or toilet is relocated, improper configuration of the sewage piping can also lead to poor drainage and frequent blockages.

「廁所裡為什麼有垃圾桶？」不少外國的租客，在台灣使用公共廁所或住宅廁所時，都會疑惑地發問。因為大多數國家的習慣，都是把衛生紙直接丟入馬桶，台灣人卻是丟進垃圾桶。

根據內政部國土署的調查，台灣的汚水下水道普及比率並不高，雖然台灣從2008年起推廣「衛生紙用完直接丟入馬桶，而非垃圾桶」政策，但是台灣人為了避免馬桶阻塞、下水道垃圾過多的情況，所以台灣人並不習慣將衛生紙丟入廁所馬桶，公共廁所及家庭廁所仍多放置垃圾桶。

衛生紙可以直接丟進馬桶嗎？
可以，但是要注意

  1. 不是每種清潔紙類都可以丟進馬桶。以衛生紙與面紙說明，衛生紙具分散性、短纖維材質，遇水較易快速分散，不會阻塞馬桶；但面紙是用來清潔臉部污垢與油脂，使用長纖維材料與添加不溶於水的濕強配方，使用時在擦汗、擦水時不易破爛，所以不能丟入馬桶裡。一般市售衛生紙或面紙外包裝標示皆會說明衛生紙可否直接丟入馬桶。
  2. 有些較為老舊的大樓或公寓的馬桶管線，若未定時抽水清理，也會容易堵塞馬桶，還可能要抽乾化糞池才能解決堵塞的問題。
  3. 因住宅重新裝修，且更改廁所及馬桶位置時，也容易造成污水排放管線未妥善配置而造成排水不良所引起的阻塞情形。

 

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