This is a comprehensive post on how bamboo toilet paper impacts sewage systems. Our team compiled this educational post to answer common questions on this subject. We searched through journals and expert sources to validate the information we present in this post.
How does bamboo toilet paper impact sewage systems? Bamboo toilet paper has no negative impact on sewage systems because it is soft and biodegradable. Since bamboo washroom paper is soft, water disintegrates it easily upon flushing. As such, it is unlikely to clog the drain and cause plumbing problems. More so, the disintegrated paper degrades completely and quickly in the sewage. It is, therefore, unlikely to cause sludge buildup.
One common problem that homeowners face is plumbing problems caused by tissue papers. No matter how hard you try, some tissue papers won’t flush. Some will even “flush”, only to clog the pipes somewhere down the drain. That’s when the toilet bowl begins to fill up with water rather than a drain. Could bamboo toilet paper be the solution to this common problem? Read on as we explain everything you need to know about how bamboo toilet paper impacts sewage systems.
How Bamboo Toilet Paper Impacts Sewage Systems
Once bamboo toilet paper gets flushed, the water dissolves it quickly. Since it disintegrates and biodegrades quite quickly and easily, it is highly unlikely that it will block your drain pipes. And even if any blockage forms, it’s going to resolve very quickly. Bamboo tissue paper cannot withstand the growing pressure that would build up as water fills up the bowl.
Clogged drains are not fun to deal with at all. If you regularly experience drain clogs in your toilet, it could be due to the type of tissue paper you are using. Some tissue paper types, such as ultra-plush tissue papers, are too thick. So rather than flush down the drain, they will get stuck up in the drainpipes and cause plumbing issues.
Bamboo tissue paper is not like that. While it is thick enough to deliver a great user experience, it is also soft enough to not cause plumbing problems. It is a septic-safe and 100% biodegradable tissue paper type. If you use bamboo toilet paper, you are not likely to have issues with incessant and infuriating toilet clogs.
Is Bamboo Toilet Paper Biodegradable?
Bamboo washroom paper breaks down completely and decomposes into the soil. It is a 100% biodegradable material. When you flush it down the drain, it disintegrates before reaching the soakaway and decomposes completely inside the soakaway.
Many homeowners complain about blockages in their sewer systems because of virgin pulp tissue papers. Some virgin pulp tissue papers do not break down fully in water. More so, they take a longer time than bamboo paper to decompose in the sewer.
Bamboo washroom papers pose no serious challenge for waste management. They decompose easily in treatment plants. When bamboo papers decompose, they disappear completely and leave no trace behind. They make the soil cleaner and safer, and they don’t add to long-term wastes in our landfills. You can also check out this article that we have written that discusses if bamboo toilet paper is biodegradable for more information.
✅ Video – The Best type of Toilet Paper for health, sustainability, and cost? Regular v Recycled v Bamboo (2020)
Watch this video to see the breakdown of how bamboo toilet paper differs from virgin pulp and recycled hardwood toilet paper. The video examines their health implications, costs, and sustainability. You will find valuable information about the different types of tissue paper and which one to buy. Click the play button now to learn the basics.
Is Bamboo Toilet Paper Septic-Safe?
Bamboo toilet paper is septic-safe for two reasons. Firstly, it is biodegradable, so it breaks down completely in the septic tank. Secondly, most bamboo tissue paper brands do not contain harsh chemicals, such as bleach. These harsh chemicals, often present in regular hardwood tissue papers, are toxic to the microbes in septic tanks.
There are three ways tissue paper and human waste break down in septic systems. The first step occurs when you flush; water disintegrates the tissue paper and human waste as it pushes it down the drain towards the septic tank. When the wastes get into the septic tank, they settle beneath the tank and natural decomposition begins. Then thirdly, septic tanks contain microbes that help facilitate quick decomposition.
When you use tissue papers that have harsh chemicals, these chemicals will kill some of the microbes. Over time, as the microbes in the septic tank reduce, decomposition becomes slower. This would make the septic tank less effective. We have also written this article that discusses if bamboo toilet paper is septic safe. Check out the article for more information about the topic.
Does Bamboo Toilet Paper Block the Drain?
Bamboo washroom paper does not block drains. They are so soft that they break down easily under pressure from the toilet’s water. However, it is wise not to use or flush more than 4 sheets of bamboo washroom paper at once. Flushing too many sheets at once may cause temporary drain blockage.
Bamboo fibers are not like hardwood fibers. Their bonds are usually looser than those of hardwood. This means that the fibers of bamboo paper will give way more easily when they come in contact with solvents, such as water. This is why bamboo toilet paper does not back up plumb lines or cause clogging. For an in-depth discussion about this topic, check out this article titled, does bamboo toilet paper block drains?
Why Do Some Toilet Papers Block the Drain?
When toilet paper blocks your drain, it is because the paper either didn’t break down as quickly or as efficiently as it ought. This can be caused by various factors. Some of them are as follows:
- When the tissue paper is too thick
- If there is not enough water to disintegrate the tissue paper. Some tissue papers need more water to break them down than is available in the typical toilet bowl flushing system.
- Sometimes, weather conditions can make the paper fibers less susceptible to disintegration by water.
Despite these factors, biodegradable washroom paper products, such as bamboo toilet paper still break down. They are designed for quicker and easier breakdown than regular toilet rolls.
Bamboo Toilet Paper Vs. Regular
Bamboo washroom paper is better than regular washroom paper in many ways. It is softer, more eco-friendly, and breaks down quicker and more efficiently. It also delivers a better user experience. The only downside to bamboo washroom paper is that it’s a bit more expensive than regular washroom paper. But the price is not too much to sacrifice for a better experience, a better environment, and a more sustainable planet.
Bamboo washroom paper is soft, but not too soft. It is thick and absorbent enough to deliver a good user experience. One-ply virgin pulp washroom papers are sometimes softer than bamboo washroom papers. But you may need to roll them over many times so that they won’t break while you are trying to clean up.
As regards eco-friendliness, bamboo washroom paper is the best tissue paper type known to man as of today. The bamboo plant is highly renewable and uses less space. It is the fastest-growing plant in the world and requires no fertilizers or toxic growth chemicals. What’s more, bamboo doesn’t need pesticides because the plant produces natural antimicrobials. You can also check out this article about bamboo toilet paper vs normal for more information.
Are Bamboo Paper Towels Better for the Environment?
Virgin bamboo paper towels are low-impact materials because the bamboo plant itself is very eco-friendly. More so, manufacturers that use bamboo are mostly eco-friendly brands that care about the environment. However, if you want the best bamboo product for the environment, look for chlorine-free products. Bamboo papers that contain chlorine are not so good for the environment.
Why is Bamboo Toilet Paper So Expensive?
First off, bamboo toilet paper is not so expensive; it costs only a little more than regular and recycled tissue paper types. This little price difference is mainly because of the cost of transporting bamboo from China, where it is grown, to the US for manufacturing. Most of the bamboo used for manufacturing in the US comes from China, so the raw material travels almost halfway through the globe before it gets to the factory. You can also check out this article titled, why is bamboo toilet paper so expensive for an in-depth discussion about the topic.
Why is Bamboo Bad for the Environment?
Bamboo is very eco-friendly, but it has a few downsides too. Some people are concerned that bamboo forests in China contribute to soil erosion. Also, some manufacturers add elemental chlorine to bleach bamboo pulp during manufacturing. This chemical is quite toxic and unsafe for the environment. There have also been concerns about biodiversity, but most of the bamboo used for manufacturing are non-panda food bamboos.
Conclusion
Bamboo toilet papers are low-impact materials that are good for sewage systems. They have no negative impact on sewage systems because they are soft and 100% biodegradable. You can count on bamboo toilet paper to eradicate the problem of drain clogging in your home. But make sure to use it judiciously.