If you don't know whether or not to flush and there happens to be a bin available, it may be better to use the bin, otherwise, you may become very unpopular. In Europe, you cannot flush toilet paper in Greece, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Turkey and Ukraine.
You typically shouldn't flush toilet paper in Turkey, Greece, China, Montenegro, Egypt, and rural areas throughout South America.
However, in countries like Turkey, Greece, and Egypt, you can't flush it. This is because the narrow pipes and sewer systems struggle to break down toilet paper and are prone to clogging. Instead, a bin is usually provided in the cubicle where you should dispose of the used paper.
Greek sewage pipes are much narrower than US or British pipes, and therefore Greek plumbing can't handle paper or any other items as it will easily clog them. This is because the infrastructure and seweage system are much older.
Note - don't flush anything down the toilet in Egypt, not even toilet paper. The pipes can't handle it.
In Japan, toilet paper is water-soluable and can be flushed down the toilets.
Parts of the Caribbean: In parts of the Caribbean, the plumbing systems are not robust enough to handle flushed toilet paper. The general rule is to avoid flushing paper to prevent blockages and environmental damage.
Well, you throw your toilet paper in the garbage — not the toilet. If you're visiting from the U.S., this may come as a culture shock. The custom in Mexico is to throw your toilet paper in the garbage when using the bathroom. That's what everyone does.
Flush toilets can easily get clogged. As with every rule there is an exception. Toilet paper belongs into the toilet unless your sitting in an automobile caravan. Never throw tampons, sanitary towels or similar materials in the toilet but use the pedal bin.
Toilets in the UK, most of Western Europe, and the United States are generally less packed with features, but flushing toilet paper is the norm, supported by sewage systems designed to handle the paper's breakdown.
Japan – Japan is renowned for its clean and high-tech toilets, often featuring bidets, heated seats, and self-cleaning functions. Public washrooms are generally well-maintained.
In Asia, bidets are a popular alternative to toilet paper. In the Middle East, water is used for personal hygiene after using the toilet. In Africa, the usage of toilet paper is not as common and many people resort to alternatives such as wiping with water or cloths.
Unless you are on a train and stopped at a station, Miss Manners can think of no reason why flushing should be suspended. The shock of any late-night noise will surely be far less offensive than that of waking up to refuse that has been lingering overnight.
France, Portugal, Italy, Japan, Argentina, Venezuela, and Spain all use bidets, they'll often have toilet paper available in public spaces for tourists, but homes would all have bidets installed. Japan is the one Asian stand-out in that they adopted bidets rather than other ways of washing the bum.
A squat toilet (or squatting toilet) is a toilet used by squatting, rather than sitting. This means that the posture for defecation and for female urination is to place one foot on each side of the toilet drain or hole and to squat over it.
Pay-to-go facilities are typically cared for by an attendant or are self-cleaning. The fee, which helps cover maintenance, supplies and labor, is typically small change: 50 cents or a euro in a European Union country, one or two Swiss francs or 20 pence to a pound in the United Kingdom.
In many Chinese toilets, flushing toilet paper is a big no-no. Why, you ask? Well, let's just say the plumbing isn't always up to the task. Instead, look for a designated bin and dispose of your used TP there.
In the United Kingdom, “the loo” is a common term for toilet. 'The loo' is generally a safe term to use and likely won't offendanyone. 'Lavatory' is a good option for people looking for a very formal word to use in very formal occasions.
Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt and Jordan.
In these countries, they also use water for cleansing during toilet use, although the “restroom” is not so much a toilet as a “hole” in the floor.
You can't flush toilet paper in Greece because the sewage pipes are much narrower than elsewhere in the world (2 inches in diameter vs. 4 inches in the U.S.!), and toilet paper can cause them to clog.
The short answer is no, you should never flush tampons. While it might seem like a quick and easy way to dispose of them, flushing tampons can lead to serious plumbing issues and environmental damage.
The only thing you should ever flush down a toilet is human waste (urine and feces) and toilet paper. Here's what you shouldn't flush: Bags / wrappings and cardboard. Band-aids and bandage wrappers.
When using public facilities, plumbing issues require toilet paper be disposed of in trash receptacles instead of flushed, which can make for an odorous experience during the heat of the day. And if you think restaurant service is slow on the main island of Puerto Rico, you haven't seen anything yet.
Don't Flush Paper
One of the golden rules of restroom etiquette in Vietnam is not to flush toilet paper. Most plumbing systems aren't designed for it, so flushing can lead to blockages. Instead, use the bins provided next to the toilet.
But I had to do it — first of all, there often isn't any toilet paper to be had, and secondly, you should NOT put toilet paper down most Indian toilets. The system was not made for it. You have to put the toilet paper in a dustbin, if you're lucky enough to find one.