Does Recycled Toilet Paper Block Drains More Frequently?

Apr 10, 2022
1 min read

If you're looking to make the switch to recycled toilet paper, the first thing you'll want to do is find out what there is to know about this eco-friendly product. It's touted as the superior loo roll for you and the environment, but what do you actually know about it? What’s it made from? Does it block drains more than regular toilet paper? Here are some fundamentals.

What is it made from?

So, first and foremost, there's no need to get worked up about the term "recycled toilet paper" because, contrary to popular belief, it's not created from old toilet paper at all. It's made out of waste paper. But it’s not that simple, what you put in is what you get out! While some brands will use any old paper, icare only use repurposed office paper to make icare toilet rolls. The higher quality inputs means that you get a soft and strong tissue that’s as good as the ones made from trees (Choice agree, rating icare as the best toilet paper in Australia in a recent test) So you can breathe easy knowing you’re not using old toilet paper and nor are you contributing to deforestation.

How is it made?

Large bales of used paper are fed into a pulping machine at a toilet paper facility to manufacture recycled toilet paper. Before going through the ink-removing procedure, the paper is combined with boiling water to make a pulp.

Air is introduced into the paper pulp to remove ink, causing the ink to rise to the top in a foam. With the use of a skimmer, the foam is removed, and the pulp is now ink-free. The water is then squeezed out of the pulp through rollers. Some brands would now bleach their paper to make it whiter, but not icare. As the paper put is high quality the output are lovely white sheets. No bleaches are used in the making of icare

The pulp is placed on a flat screen with a heater to dry it. The plup dries into tissue in less than a second, and is then rolled into a big spool and embossed. The paper is embossed with patterns to thicken it and improve absorbency. The facility also produces infinite cardboard tubes, which are cut into lengths and then carried (via conveyor belt) to the toilet paper department, where they are joined to the paper.

Three rolls of this tissue paper is then wound around f 2 meter long tubes. Rolling comes to a halt when the roll is complete and has the correct number of sheets of toilet paper on it. The paper is cut using a blade andthe long roll is moved on, and the winding on the next roll begins.

To prevent the rolls from unwinding, they are automatically sealed with adhesive, and the long roll is then chopped into smaller rolls , the size you buy in the supermarket. It is then packed and distributed. It’s a pretty cool process for something as everyday as toilet paper!

Bamboo vs recycled toilet paper

An important distinction is that recycled toilet paper is not the same as bamboo toilet paper. While they are both more eco-friendly than regular toilet paper, they differ in many ways.

Recycled toilet paper is manufactured from recycled paper, such as from textbooks, office paper etc, cut, and heated until it has been reduced to a pulp. After that, the pulp is made back into tissue paper.

Bamboo-based variations are created somewhat differently, with basic materials being broken down to produce bamboo pulp, which is then soaked, pressed, and moulded into the final product. Remember Bamboo still needs to be farmed, where as recycled paper gives waste paper a second life. When you search online for recycled toilet paper, often bamboo toilet paper comes up, while it’s a good option, if you are looking for 100% recycled toilet paper, ensure you’re not directed to bamboo toilet paper instead!

Does recycled toilet paper block drains?

The short answer is no, it should not. The long answer nails the problem down to quality. Any toilet paper that is poorly manufactured will have a higher chance of blocking your toilet.

When a toilet roll is designed to be more difficult to break down, the paper can clog the toilet. The most common culprits are super-cushioned, quilted, and ultra-premium toilet paper, although even less expensive kinds may also be a problem.

It’s not all bad news. The majority of recycled toilet paper brands are designed to break up as soon as they are flushed. The water from your toilet flushing aids in the movement of the waste, breaking up its fibres.

Like any kind of toilet paper, regular, bamboo or recycled, using too much of it can lead to blockages. Be sure to use only the amount you need, as this can help stop any wasteful usage and prevent unnecessary blocks in your drains.

Stay Away From Quilted and Thick Products

A lot of tissue paper goods boast quilted or thickness qualities, it might feel nice to use but you should avoid such items if you want the best for your plumbing.

Something that is plush and squishy is also thick and has the ability to expand. Toilet paper is supposed to disintegrate in the plumbing system. It can clog drainpipes if it expands within them, resulting in costly repairs.

Is it better for the environment?

Recycled toilet paper is still the best option for the environment. To create regular toilet paper, 27,000 trees are cut down every day; therefore, choosing recycled toilet paper helps to minimise deforestation. Trees that aren't cut down for toilet paper and other disposable products can be left to create oxygen, absorb carbon dioxide and other gasses, and provide natural habitats for our animal friends.

Recycling toilet paper also saves energy because products made from recycled paper and cardboard use 50% less energy and 90% less water than those made from virgin materials. Recycled toilet paper has come a long way, the icare brand just won Choice’s best toilet paper (out of all toilet papers! Virgin and Bamboo included). So if you haven't tried recycled toilet paper before or recently, you might be surprised at how similar it is to regular toilet paper.

Choose recycled toilet paper

Toilet paper is created from virgin fibres obtained by culling trees. Thousands of trees are cut down unnecessarily each year to make toilet paper. You are practically flushing trees down the toilet if you use conventional toilet paper.

100% post-consumer trash, such as textbooks and office paper are used to make recycled toilet paper. By using recycled paper, fewer trees are cut down, allowing us to breathe cleaner air, offer homes for wildlife, and preserve soil from erosion. If you ask us it’s a simple switch that helps create a lot of good!