To Flush or Not to Flush: The Bathroom Habit That Baffles Foreigners in Taiwan

Some cultural differences in Taiwan only become apparent after you’ve lived here for a while. But others hit you the moment you arrive. One that often catches foreigners off guard is this: in many restrooms, used toilet paper goes in the trash can, not down the toilet.

In Taiwan, it’s common practice to throw toilet paper into a small bin next to the toilet rather than flushing it. For travelers from Western countries who are used to flushing everything away, this can feel both inconvenient and unhygienic. Many foreigners new to Taiwan walk into a bathroom, see a bin full of used toilet paper, and immediately wonder, “Why don’t people just flush it?” In their minds, that’s what toilet paper is for, and bins are for other types of waste.

There is a practical reason behind this habit. In many parts of Europe and North America, plumbing systems are designed to accommodate toilet paper disposal, featuring wider pipes and sufficient water pressure to reduce clogging. Additionally, toilet paper in these regions is generally made to break down quickly in water, which further lowers the risk of blockages. 

Taiwan, on the other hand, presents a different situation. Many older apartment buildings and townhouses were constructed with narrower pipes and lower water pressure, which makes flushing toilet paper more prone to causing clogs. Additionally, toilet paper here typically doesn't dissolve in water. As a result, flushing it often leads to blockages that can be both inconvenient and costly to fix. For these reasons, people in Taiwan have grown up with the habit of throwing used toilet paper into a bin instead of flushing it. 

However, things have started to change in recent years. Many brands now offer "flushable" toilet paper that breaks down quickly in water and can be safely flushed. Newer buildings, shopping malls, and government facilities also have updated plumbing systems that can handle flushed paper, and some public restrooms even encourage flushing toilet paper to maintain cleanliness.

You’ll usually see signs like “Flushable toilet paper” or “Please throw toilet paper into the toilet” in these places. If there’s no sign, it’s safer to stick with the bin. And even if you’re using flushable paper, it’s best not to flush too much at once if you live in an older apartment. One moment of convenience might lead to a full-blown plumbing disaster, which definitely isn’t worth it. 

Funny enough, whenever I visit my in-laws in the UK, I find myself feeling a little out of place in bathrooms without trash bins. I’ll instinctively look around for a place to throw my used paper before remembering I’m in a country where flushing it is the norm. Even though I know their plumbing can handle it, I still hesitate to flush too much at once. Some habits, once deeply ingrained, are hard to shake. 

Where toilet paper ends up might seem like a small detail, but it reveals so much about cultural differences and everyday wisdom. That’s the charm of daily life, the little things that make each place unique.