We've written about not flushing wipes (whether labeled as flushable or not) down the toilet, but we just read about not flushing contact lenses too. Scientific American reported in a recent article that "Every year, Americans flush 2.6 to 2.9 billion contact lenses down the drain, according to new research from Arizona State University."

When lenses get into the wastewater system, they only "degrade slightly". Since they aren't breaking down, it's leading to about 50,000 pounds of lenses building up in U.S. wastewater systems each year.

To help prevent contact lenses clogging our wastewater systems and harming the environment, the solution is simple. Absolutely do not flush contact lenses down the toilet or put down the drain. They belong in the garbage.

For more information on what can be flushed down the toilet and how to dispose of fats, oils and grease, which also clog the systems, visit DrinkTap's Caring For Pipes webpage.