How do you dispose of an old toilet properly? This may seem daunting, but with the right steps, it can be done easily and safely. Knowing how to collect, transport, break down, clean up, and recycle your old toilet can help protect the environment and prevent unnecessary health risks associated with improper disposal.
We all know the importance of proper toilet disposal to keep our homes and environment clean and healthy. Toilets contain a wide range of potentially harmful bacteria, viruses, and chemicals that can be detrimental if not disposed of properly. These hazardous materials are dangerous to our health, and improper disposal can lead to costly plumbing problems.
Fortunately, there are several steps you can take to ensure your toilet is safely removed from your home or office space while preserving the environment around you. Here’s how to dispose a toilet!
What are the Causes of Toilet Disposal?
Before you jump into the steps of disposing of a toilet, let’s look at some common causes for removal. The most common reason for replacing a toilet is age; older toilets can start to develop cracks in the porcelain, leading to leaking water and foul odors.
Additionally, sometimes plumbing systems need an upgrade due to damage or wear and tear over time. Whatever the cause, knowing how to dispose of your old toilet properly will help preserve both your health and the environment around you.
What Will You Need?
Before you begin the process of disposing of a toilet, it is important to have all of the necessary tools and materials for the job. The following items are necessary for toilet removal:
- Gloves
- Safety glasses
- A screwdriver
- Pliers
- A dolly or sturdy cart to move the old toilet from one location to another.
- An appropriate container for disposal, such as a dumpster or hazardous waste facility.
Once you have all of these items, you can move on to the next step.
10 Easy Steps on How to Dispose a Toilet
Step 1. Collect Your Materials:
Gather up all the necessary tools and materials that you’ll need, including gloves, goggles, protective clothing, garbage bags, shovels, rags, and cleaning supplies. You can also use a dolly or cart to make the job easier. As a safety precaution, shut off your home’s water supply before you begin the process.
Step 2. Shut Off the Water Supply:
Shut off the water supply to your old toilet by turning the valve behind it. Make sure all water is completely drained from the tank before proceeding. Because the waste in the tank may contain hazardous materials, it’s important to wear gloves and safety glasses during this step.
Step 3. Disconnect Pipes:
Disrupt any pipes or other attachments connected to your toilet using a wrench, such as hoses or flanges. If you need help, consult a plumber for assistance with this step. Try to keep the pipes as intact as possible so you can use them again for a new toilet installation.
Step 4. Remove the Toilet:
Place damp towels under the base of your toilet and carefully lift them up with two or more people on each side, using one hand to steady it and one to hold onto its weight. Lay the toilet on its side on a strong and sturdy dolly or cart for transport. It will also help wrap the toilet in a tarp or garbage bag to keep it clean during transport.
Step 5. Disconnect the Drain:
Disrupt the drain from the floor using pliers and remove any additional attachments, such as straps or bolts, with a screwdriver. Be sure to seal off the drain pipe after removing it to prevent any hazardous materials from leaking onto your property. Additionally, be sure to keep all materials away from children and pets.
Step 6. Clean Up:
Once all the pieces have been taken apart and removed, use rags and soapy water to clean up any mess left behind thoroughly. Remember to wear gloves during this process as you may come in contact with harmful bacteria or chemicals. Remember to remove any remaining pieces of the old toilet, such as bolts, straps, etc.
Step 7. Transport Toilet:
Carefully transport the old toilet to an appropriate disposal facility or container, such as a dumpster or hazardous waste facility. Secure the toilet in your vehicle using straps or rope for safe transportation. Keep the old toilet away from other items, including people, pets, and food.
Step 8. Dispose of Old Toilet:
Once you have arrived at your chosen disposal location, carefully unload the toilet from your vehicle and place it into the designated area. Make sure all safety regulations are followed when disposing of any hazardous materials. If you need help, be sure to consult your local regulations for proper disposal of a toilet.
Step 9. Clean Up Again:
After your old toilet has been disposed of, clean up any mess left behind again with rags and cleaning supplies to avoid contamination on your property or in nearby areas. Use a shovel to collect and dispose of any remaining debris safely. This step is especially important if you are disposing of the toilet in a public space.
Step 10. Recycle:
Consider recycling the contents of your old toilet, such as porcelain, metal fixtures, and bolts, to help reduce environmental pollution. Toilet tanks can typically be recycled at a hazardous waste facility or local recycling center. Remember always to follow the safety regulations for properly disposing of hazardous materials.
Disposing a toilet may seem daunting, but with these easy steps, you will have it taken care of in no time! Remember to take all necessary safety precautions and seek professional help for any major plumbing repairs or upgrades. And above all else, always dispose of your old toilets properly to protect yourself and the environment from harm.
5 Additional Tips and Tricks
1. Get the right tools for the job. When disposing of a toilet, you’ll need a wrench and some pliers to disconnect the water supply lines and remove bolts that secure the toilet to the floor. To avoid any mess or injury, having all these items on hand before attempting to dispose of your old toilet is important.
2. Turn off the water supply. Before beginning the disposal process, turn off the water supply valve on either side of your toilet — this will prevent any unwanted flooding when you start removing plumbing components associated with your old toilet.
3. Remove all parts and pieces from around your toilet. If you’re replacing an existing toilet, clear away any debris, such as rugs, toilet paper holders, etc. This will make it easier for you to do the job safely and efficiently without worrying about getting anything in the way.
4. Take precautions with the porcelain parts of your old toilet. Porcelain can be very heavy and fragile, so it’s important to use caution when removing parts such as the tank or bowl from your old toilet. Make sure you ask a friend or family member for help to ensure no one gets hurt!
5. Dispose of your old toilet safely and responsibly. After disassembling all of its parts, properly dispose of them according to local laws and regulations — this might mean taking some components to a recycling center or dumping them off at a landfill. Doing this will help limit the amount of waste that goes into our environment!
By following these five tips and tricks, you’ll be able to safely and responsibly dispose of your old toilet in no time — so you can get back to enjoying your newly remodeled bathroom sooner than later!
5 Things You Should Avoid
1. Don’t use harsh chemicals or cleaners on the porcelain parts of your old toilet. Due to their corrosive nature, these can damage the material and make the disposal process more difficult.
2. Don’t attempt to lift the entire toilet by yourself, as maneuvering around your bathroom can be very heavy and awkward. If you aren’t sure how much it weighs, consider asking for a friend’s help.
3. Don’t forget to turn off water supply valves before beginning the removal process — this will prevent any accidental flooding that could occur if you forget this crucial step!
4. Don’t use power tools when removing bolts from your old toilet, as these can cause damage to the porcelain material and lead to cracks or chips in the parts.
5. Don’t attempt to flush any debris down your old toilet when disposing of it — this can cause clogs in the sewer lines, which could create a plumbing disaster! Instead, safely dispose of all materials as outlined above.
By following these five pieces of advice, you’ll be able to ensure that disposing of your old toilet is safe and stress- free.
Conclusion
Overall, getting rid of your old toilet correctly is essential to preserving environmental safety. Now, you should have a better understanding of how to dispose a toilet.
First, make sure the tank and bowl are drained before disposing. From there, contact your waste management provider for the most appropriate way to discard your toilet, depending on where you live.
Secondly, research if any part of the toilet can be recycled or repurposed so it’s no longer just taking up useless space in a landfill. Finally, always break down the toilet and wrap it in plastic before its disposal to avoid any fragments leaking into the environment or harming individuals near its discarding area.
Disposing a toilet may feel like an overwhelming task, but armed with this information, you can confidently ensure that it’s done safely and with minimal environmental impact.
