Flushing toilet roll in Greece!?

Question

Hi all,

My friends are going to Greece next month for a holiday, and I've heard that you used to have to put your "used No.2" toilet roll in a special bin, rather than flushing it, because their sewer system couldn't deal with it! It this still true?

Thanks guys and gals.

xx

Answer 1

Yes it's true. After living in Greece for 20 yrs, when I returned to New Zealand I sat in the bathroom, flushing paper down the toilet.

For me, that was the worst thing about living in Greece. And of course, in my house I had to take the paper out to the corner bin myself. I HATED it, although no one could understand why I was making a fuss.

Answer 2

Yes you do not flush loo roll in Greece - the pipework is very thin and unable to take waste paper. There are bins provided - and if you are staying in a hotel or apartments - are emptied daily. It's not as bad as you think - just like a pedal bin in your kitchen - doesn't smell if it's emptied daily!!!!

Answer 3

Yes this is true cos their sewer system cant cope with paper. Its the same in Cyprus.

Answer 4

Yes this is true, although in many hotels, and touristic areas in Athens and the islands, you can flush it. But for the majority of public places in Greece, we use a bin.  

If you are coming from a place where  you are used to flushing it, i understand why you might think this is 'weird'. But actually most Greeks think flushing is weird, and not the other way around. I remember when i moved to US when i was 13 i thought it was weird that i had to flush it. Now adopted to the American bathroom environment, i think putting it in a bin is disgusting. hahah lol. But yes, i dont like using bins in public places because of the bad odor and untidy bins. I personally think that the sewer system in Greece is a problem and it should be fixed.

Answer 5

I don't think that is true.

After all, a number 2 is okay with their sewerage system, so I guess a little loo roll is as well!

Edit: My mistake, apparently it is true:

http://www.corfu-travel-guide.info/messa...

Ewwww!

Answer 6

i don't know what is the No 2 thing but what i want to say is that greeks are flushing... like every other country

Answer 7

I've heard this too and believe that it's still true in most parts of the country. For this reason and this reason alone, I have no desire to visit Greece. I'd rather dig a hole in a field, sh*t, wipe and bury the lot than have to put my cr*p covered tissue in a special bin. The idea makes me want to vomit.

Answer 8

yes its still true mind you there are a few "hole in the ground" toilets still around but not many.

its because they have very thin waste pipes and in hotels the bins are emptied frequently so its not a problem.

ps if you forget and flush it dont worry ive dont it and never blogged the loo up yet.

Answer 9

Greek Drainage Systems CANT cope with Loo Paper. The way i found it out is, I stayed in my Apartment in Kavala and after a 6 weeks holiday the pipes were Blocked and none of my neighbors were able to use their toilets for the entire day!

Thank God no one found out that it was me and we just split the cost by the amount of tenants (8)

To Make matters worse, some of the toilets don't have Toilet seats but you have to knee down and aim!

Good Luck!

Answer 10

err why wud number 2 toilet roll b any different to number 1 toilet roll....and if the number twos going down there anyway!?

nah, i think they're pulling your leg..

Answer 11

yes

the greek sewage pipes in bars, restaurants and small hotels are only 2" diameter as compared with 4" back in uk.

the bigger newer hotels have "modern " size pipes and can be flushed normally.

if the women just have a wee and use a little bit of paper its  normally ok but a bigger "job" won,t cope.

the smell can get ripe in high summer but the pedal bins do get emptied every day. it,s a maltese thing that they accept while its hard for us to take in.

beware, some of the smaller places have "bomb-aimer" toilets which are just a hole in the floor and can be a nightmare after a couple of beers!!!!!!!

Answer 12

whenever i have gone to cyprus, no one ever threw the toilet paper in the toilet, always in trash cans that ppl have in their bathroom. believe me, it doesnt smell.

have to do that here in the usa sometimes because flushing with toilet paper can sometimes clog the toilet!

Answer 13

I cant believe I am saying this  but - after a while you hardly notice -the bins are changed all the time and I wasnt aware of any smell.  the same goes for Turkey.  When I came back home I nearly threw the toilet paper in the bin in my bathroom.  Honest - it is not a problem - dont even think about it.

Answer 14

True - all loo paper and sanitary towels etc in the bin at the side of the toilet ... which is emptied everyday. Disgusting - but not as disgusting as blocking the drain and having your room flooded with other people's poo and wee!

Answer 15

We don't flush paper. The sewage system can't deal with it. I don't have a problem with that, as the bins are emptied regularly. After a few days you won't even notice!

You know what? Five years ago I stayed in Lancaster university for a month: we were 10 people from Greece using the same toilet. We found it very strange that there was no bin next to the toilet seat. After 3 days the sewage and drainage system didn't work because of all the paper we had flushed down the pipes. The English plumbers came to fix it. Apparently, the English system is not good either, or maybe English people use too little toilet paper! : - )