especially when flushed down the toilet
2007-06-04 10:54:09 · 9 answers · asked by Dee 2 in Environment ➔ Other - Environment
Absolutely. Although latex is biodegradable, there may be other chemicals on the condoms (e.g., lubricants, spermicides, etc.) which could adversely affect the environment. Assuming the condoms don't clog the toilet (another reason not to flush them), they constitute a solid waste and, if they don't degrade entirely, will have to be picked out at the treatment facility. Also, any object such as this which ultimately reaches the water supply can be harmful to the environment. I guess the best way to dispose of them would be to simply put them in the trash where they will ultimately end up in a landfill someplace.
2007-06-04 11:08:15 · answer #1 · answered by Judge 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Yes and no. They should never be flushed down the toilet because they are hard on the plumbing fixtures. Added latex in our landfills is naturally not a good thing.
However, I believe that that is the lesser of two evils. Thanks to the use of condoms, there are less unwanted babies in this overcrowded world and less people are sick with STDs, in effect, cuts down on the cost and resources it takes to care for such people.
2007-06-04 11:02:56 · answer #2 · answered by thezaylady 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Depends on the area you live in... the city I live in is has a somewhat large population and the sewage treatment plant had a problem with condoms clogging the screens. Eventually the city had to pay someone to develop and custom screen for filtering out condoms. If you want to know for sure if it is a problem in your area... contact your local sewage treatment plant and ask.
2007-06-04 11:10:07 · answer #3 · answered by ecogeek4ever 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Actually no. When your waste water is being treated one of the first processes it goes through is a screening process where all large debris (your condoms for example) is filtered out of the water. This debris is then sent to an incinerator like any other solid waste.
2007-06-04 11:02:35 · answer #4 · answered by disco_stud61 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Thats really fantastic that someone is so caring about the environment, that she worries about where condoms are thrown. Cngradulations I really mean that .. GREAT.
and yes it does have a negative impact..
2007-06-04 11:07:06 · answer #5 · answered by Dragon'sFire 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
If you have a septic tank beware that they swell up to a humongus size- if it goes to a treatment plant, they are used to it and it is not as bad as all the antibiotics and antidepressents that are going into our rivers.
2007-06-04 11:04:04 · answer #6 · answered by riverwooddude 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Most likely yes, but not nearly as much as another human being born!
2007-06-04 10:57:41 · answer #7 · answered by punxy_girl 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Not as much as having an unwanted or unplanned child in a womens life, or worse, abortion.
2007-06-04 11:02:49 · answer #8 · answered by HAGAR!!! 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Yeah like all plastics
2007-06-04 11:33:08 · answer #9 · answered by Isti H 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋