In the majority of Asian countries, the water management process is not as nice as compared to the West. Due to the sanitary issues it may cause, flushing toilet paper should be avoided. This is the result of why people there commonly use water bowls, bidets, or bidet showers in place of paper.
And some countries do not have systems that can break down toilet paper easily, so it's customary not to flush.
There is lower water pressure in Asia, and it is easy for the toilet pipes to clog. That is why they throw toilet paper in a wastebasket instead of flushing it down the toilet.
Brazil – In common with most Latin American countries, the sewage system in Brazil can't cope with paper being flushed, so use the bin provided. If you're in the jungle or up the Amazon, take your paper with you and dispose of it somewhere hygienic, or burn it on the way.
“Because of the structure of the water pipeline, it will cause a problem with the water pressure.” In addition he adds “pipelines are very fragile, and also very old. So if you dump toilet paper in there it could damage the system.”
When using toilets in Japan, leave toilet paper in the toilet bowl and flush the toilet after use. * Papers that can be flushed down the toilet are only toilet paper and other paper that can be flushed. * Please dispose of sanitary napkins and tampons in the wastebasket installed on the side of the toilet.
Bidets in Japan are very popular. A bidet is a small bathroom fixture that sprays water to clean your bottom. You can use a handheld bidet to clean yourself after using the toilet.
Can you flush toilet paper? Yes! Toilet paper is designed to breakdown quickly once it's flushed!
So, why can't you flush toilet paper in Greece? Well, the country's plumbing system is not designed to handle large amounts of paper. The plumbing pipes are narrow, and paper or other waste materials would clog most Greek toilets, including those at rooms, hotels and restaurants.
The sewage pipes in Thailand are much narrower than those in many countries, and flushing anything solid will cause blockages. If you disregard this rule and your wad of toilet tissue happens to break the plumbing, it's terrible karma. Most toilets have a hose which you should use to clean yourself.
The earliest accounts of paper being used for cleaning up are from 6th century China, though it's likely people could have used it even earlier than that. Large-scale manufacturing of toilet paper officially started in the 14th century in the modern-day province of Zhejiang, China.
Chinese toilets are normally squat style, which admittedly take some getting used to. However, comfort yourself in the knowledge that using a squat toilet means you don't touch anything and you don't have to cover the toilet seat with paper before you can sit down.
France, Portugal, Italy, Japan, Argentina, Venezuela, and Spain: Instead of toilet paper, people from these countries (most of them from Europe) usually have a bidet in their washrooms. A bidet like a toilet, but also includes a spout that streams water like a water fountain to rinse you clean.
Treatment plants effectively remove toilet paper from wastewater, but all other garbage should go in the trash can. These Items belong in the trash can. The only thing you should ever flush down a toilet is human waste (urine and feces) and toilet paper.
One of the reasons some countries have always favoured toilet paper, it appears, is the climate. Most countries in Northern Europe are cold for a good part of the year, and although we live in the 21st century and water heating is available today, it's just a habit that's been passed down the ages.
Why are all the toilet seats missing in Italian public bathrooms? Seat-free toilets are seen as more hygienic because strangers aren't sharing the same toilet seat. Toilet seats are also often broken by patrons and are expensive and difficult to replace.
Empathizing with the Greeks
Believe it or not, Greece is by far not the only European country where you can't flush your toilet paper. It is in good company with 9 others: Belarus, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Turkey, and Ukraine.
The mill, near Millicent in south-east South Australia, is one of the three largest suppliers of toilet paper in the country and produces about more than 400 million toilet rolls per year.
Anything other than toilet paper and human waste—including cleaning or baby wipes that are marketed as "flushable"—can block your pipes or the City's sewer system. Watch this video to see how wipes can pile up in the sewer pipes connecting a home to the sewer.
Flushing wipes, paper towels and similar products down toilets will clog sewers and cause backups and overflows at wastewater treatment facilities, creating an additional public health risk. Be aware of wet wipes are marketed as flushable and septic-safe.
As is the case in (almost) all places in Southeast Asia, including Vietnam, you cannot flush used toilet paper down the toilet.
Bidets haven't ever been widely embraced in American culture. A common origin story for this reluctance is that bidets were seen as lascivious because they were used in brothels as a form of emergency contraception.
Pat dry with toilet paper
Since you're already clean from your bidet, you won't need much toilet paper to do so–just enough to remove any excess water. Use a gentle pat-dry motion instead of a wipe to avoid any irritation. That's all there is to it.
Instead of using toilet paper, Iranians use a small mysterious water pipe that you can find most of the time on the right side of the wall in the toilets. It felt weird at first to rinse my cheeky butt with it… but I got used to it after a time! It is similar to what you can find in many countries of south east Asia.