Gwinnett wants you to stop treating your toilet like a trash can

There have been two sewage spills in Gwinnett County this week due to grease, wipes and other waste being dumped down drains and toilets. The county water resources department wants residents to know those objects don't belong in your pipes.

“Remember that toilets are not trash cans,” said Karen Shields, spokesperson for the Gwinnett County Department of Water Resources. “So place cleansing wipes, diapers, paper towels and other items in the trash can instead of flushing them.

The department also wants Gwinnett residents to properly dispose of fats, oils and grease, which can congeal in pipes and cause overflows of raw sewage onto property and into waterways. Things like bacon grease, ice cream and peanut butter can gunk up the sewer.