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23-07-2012, 19:20
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Chilliwack BC Canada
Posts: 8
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Disposing of sanitary napkin
Me and my family are planning to buy a cat and sail the 7 seas. My wife asked me a question about disposing sanitary napkins, flush or store em?
Thxz
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23-07-2012, 19:28
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#2
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Marine Service Provider
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 3,012
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Re: Disposing of sanitary napkin
Don't even THINK of flushing ANY feminine hygiene product--and that includes wet wipes--or anything else that you haven't eaten first except for quick-dissolve TP unless you want to get a lot more intimately acquainted with both your toilet pump and the item that clogged it than you ever want to be. Feminine hygiene products--and anything else except quick-dissolve TP needs to be wrapped in TP and put into a ziplock sandwich bag and into the trash to be disposed of ashore (not over the side at sea, please...those things aren't good for marine life either).
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23-07-2012, 20:42
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Bayfield, Lake Superior, WI & Wayzata, MN
Boat: C&C 34 & Sonar One Design
Posts: 369
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Re: Disposing of sanitary napkin
Peg...You've unretired! Or was this one so egregious you just couldn't bear it?
__________________
Whatever you do, always give 100%. Unless you’re donating blood.
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23-07-2012, 21:04
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#4
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Marine Service Provider
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 3,012
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Re: Disposing of sanitary napkin
No I'm not "unretired"...just needed a "fix" so dropped by to see what y'all are up to..saw this one on the "recent discussions" list...and the next thing I knew I was typing!
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23-07-2012, 22:29
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#5
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Carlsbad, CA
Boat: 1976 Sabre 28-2
Posts: 7,505
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Re: Disposing of sanitary napkin
Correct me if I'm wrong but aren't Tampax bio-degradable. If that's the case, they would be a candidate for overboard disposal when offshore. The little critters will chew them right up or they will be eaten by bacteria. Definitely a no no in an anchorage, enclosed waters or coastal, however.
Assume that those that advertise miraculous absorbancy are synthetic and not suitable for bio-degrading. So it's a case of read the label for possible offshore disposal.
__________________
Peter O.
'Ae'a, Pearson 35
'Ms American Pie', Sabre 28 Mark II
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23-07-2012, 23:11
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#6
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Switzerland
Boat: So many boats to choose from. Would prefer something that is not an AWB, and that is beachable...
Posts: 1,324
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Re: Disposing of sanitary napkin
AFAIK you're not supposed to flush sanitary napkins when on shore either. So why does your wife expect to be able to do so on a yacht?
On yachts we just put a trash bag in the head, where everything that hasn't been eaten first goes in to (that includes toilet paper).
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24-07-2012, 06:06
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#7
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Marine Service Provider
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 3,012
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Re: Disposing of sanitary napkin
"Biodegradable" is a meaningless feel-good term used to mislead people thinking it means the same thing as "environmentally friendly"...it doesn't. Believe it or not, formaldehyde is biodegradable...would you want to feed that to the fishes?
This is from the Tampax website:
T ampax Flushable Cardboard has a flushable and biodegradable applicator with an Anti-Slip GripTM. It has an absorbent core designed to fit your unique shape, along with a LeakGuard® skirt to help stop leaks before they happen. Each tampon comes in a strong durable wrapper.
The Tampax Cardboard tampon, wrapper, AND applicator can be flushed in toilets connected to city sewer systems. Frequent flushing of tampons is not recommended for septic systems.
They’re made from a combination of cotton and rayon — rayon is a natural cellulose fiber found in trees, and it’s actually been used in tampons for more than 25 years! The overwrap, or covering over the tampon's absorbent material, is a common man-made fabric used in tampons, pads, and wipes.
"Biodegradable" or not, somehow I don't think nylon and cotton are very good for marine life digestion. Note that they say it's ok to flush tampons down toilets connected to sewers which go to sewage treatment plants, but not ok to put 'em into septic tanks. That's because sewage treatment plants use chemicals to break down "biodegradable" materials...it would have to dissolve on its own in a septic tank. And if you want to find out just how long THAT would take in sea water, put a used one in a jar full of it and find out.
That's my $.02 worth...and I've now had my online "fix"...I'm outa here till I need another one in a few months or never.
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24-07-2012, 06:51
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2009
Boat: Nassau 42 SV Ceol Mor
Posts: 789
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Re: Disposing of sanitary napkin
Do NOT flush them!!
If you are going to spend anytime onboard at all, your wife should definitely investigate a Diva cup.It will make life soooo much better.
Men- do not Google this. This falls under things you do not wish to know.Trust me.
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24-07-2012, 06:57
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#9
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cat herder, extreme blacksheep
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: furycame alley , tropics, mexico for now
Boat: 1976 FORMOSA yankee clipper 41
Posts: 18,967
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Re: Disposing of sanitary napkin
NONE of that stuff goes down hole--ALL goes into a trash bag--specialty items need special wrapping so s not to gross folks out. do not flush anything you have not eaten nor drunk.
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24-07-2012, 07:16
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Nova Scotia until Spring 2021
Boat: Custom 41' Steel Pilothouse Cutter
Posts: 4,976
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Re: Disposing of sanitary napkin
Why am I imagining a Gary Larson-style cartoon where there's a cruiser in the distance and in the foreground is one shark saying to another shark: "I dunno, Murray. Once a month I seem to come over all peckish".
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24-07-2012, 07:24
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#11
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2006
Location: west coast of Florida
Boat: Schucker mini-trawler
Posts: 353
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Re: Disposing of sanitary napkin
Food containers (empty Parmesan cheese, peanut butter jars, etc.) with lids make good depositories for items that smell.
The Dollar Tree offers diaper disposal bags (very thin plastic, baby powder scent) in boxes of 75 for a buck. The dog disposal bags aren't scented and only hold 50.... Put item in bag, tie knot, drop into container and close. When stuffed full (the bags make that part easier) put container in your trash for disposal ashore.
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24-07-2012, 13:00
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#12
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Chilliwack BC Canada
Posts: 8
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Re: Disposing of sanitary napkin
Thank you all for you words of wisdom.
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24-07-2012, 14:25
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#13
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Sponsoring Vendor
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Hollywood, Fl.
Boat: FP Athena 38' Poerava
Posts: 3,984
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Re: Disposing of sanitary napkin
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mimsy
Do NOT flush them!!
If you are going to spend anytime onboard at all, your wife should definitely investigate a Diva cup.It will make life soooo much better.
Men- do not Google this. This falls under things you do not wish to know.Trust me.
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AAAAAARGH!! I couldn't resist
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