Can you flush toilet paper in Romania? (According to Locals)

Each country has different rules when it comes to bathroom etiquette, even when it comes to flushing down toilet paper.

If you’re traveling to Romania and struggling to find out what you’re allowed to flush in public restrooms, we’ve got you covered.

So, can you flush toilet paper in Romania?

Yes, you can. More than 90% of the time, you’re allowed to flush toilet paper in the toilet unless you see big red warning signs saying otherwise.

I’m a Romanian, born and raised there, and here are my tips on this subject.

Toilet paper rolls are made from short fibers that are easy and soft to break down. 95% of it dissolves in water, and the remaining 5% needs to be treated.

Romania has a pretty good plumbing and sewage system and can handle processing toilet paper just fine.

Exceptions make old buildings and facilities (eg. in the old center of Bucharest), where the drainage system is a bit old and doesn’t have the power to get rid of the paper.

When you should toss it in the bin?

In rare cases, you might need to throw the toilet paper in a waste bin, but it should be clearly marked by signs.

Signs you could see in restaurants, pubs, or hotels in Romania:

“Va rugam sa nu mai aruncati hartia igienica in toaleta. Folositi cosul de gunoi. Va Multumim!”

Translated:

“Please don’t throw the toilet paper in the toilet. Use the waste bine. Thank you”

“Stop. Atentie. Pentru ca stim ca va pasa, va rugam, ca materialele nebiodegradabile (lavete, servetele umede, tampoane, alte materiale cu continut polimer si plastic) sa nu se arunce in toaleta! Ele se arunca in cosul de gunoi”

Translated:

“Stop. Pay attention. Because we know you care, please, every non-biodegradable material (napkins, wet napkins, tampons, other plastic materials) should not be flushed in the toilet. They should be thrown in the waste bin.”

Basically, what you need to be careful of are items that have the potential to cause a blockage in the public sewage system.

What not to flush:

wet wipes,
tampons,
paper towels,

Band-aids
Cleaning wipes
Needles

Dental floss
Oils
Diapers

Sanitary napkins
Toys
Garbage

or anything else that contains plastic.

The items listed above will not dissolve in water, will eventually lead to clogging and not to mention, and will reach into rivers polluting the environment.

If it’s not biodegradable, put it in the trash.

You should also know that Romania’s countryside still has trouble implementing modern-world toilets.

Over a quarter of the population still has their toilet outside the house.

1 in 4 Romanians doesn’t have an indoor functional flushing toilet.

Especially in those outdoor squat toilets in Romania, you need to make sure you use only toilet paper that properly dissolves and is safe for the environment. All the waste goes to the bin.