by Peng-Yu Chen Many visitors to Taiwan encounter two challenges when going to the toilet. The first is that there are two kinds of toilets, squatting and sitting. Second, people in Taiwan normally do not flush toilet paper, and there are even signs to tell you not to do so. History The earliest toilets date back to Ancient Egypt, when the wealthy used toilets with seats made of limestone. Others sat on a wooden stool with a hole in it. Owing to Egypt’s climate and lack of water, sewage systems were never developed so there were no flushing toilets. Other ancient civilizations, on the other hand, built drainage networks and flushed toilets with water. It was not until the 19th century and the rise of western civilization that the modern toilet was born. According to a report from the Architectural Institute of Taiwan, sitting toilets were influenced by Western modernization. The East uses squatting toilets while the West uses sitting toilets. Squatting Toilets v.s. Sitting Toilets The health benefits of squatting have been praised by experts. It is said that squatting is the most natural approach to bowel movements, and it makes elimination faster, easier, more effective, and more complete. This prevents “fecal stagnation,” which is a prime factor in colon cancer, appendicitis, and inflammatory bowel disease. It is also a highly effective, non-invasive treatment for hemorrhoids, based on published clinical research. For pregnant women, squatting avoids pressure on the uterus, and it helps prepare one for a more natural delivery. For patients with colon issues, it is required rather than recommended to use squatting toilets. Squatting toilets are also more hygienic as they avoid direct contact with the skin. They are also more easy to clean, and since they are smaller they save space. Sitting toilets, however, are more convenient and they are easier to use for the disabled and the elderly. Toilet Paper v.s. Tissue Paper On the question of flushing toilet paper, it is necessary to know the difference between toilet paper and tissue paper. Both of them are made of paper pulp, but toilet paper is meant to be used in restrooms while tissue paper is made for the wiping nose, hands, and face. Thus, tissue paper has a smoother surface and is often impregnated with lotions and scents designed to make the nose-blowing experience more pleasant. It is also infused with a chemical binder that helps retain its shape. The chemical binder makes tissue paper have wet strength, so that it does not dissolve easily. Toilet paper, on the other hand, is easily dissolved in water. It has the characteristics of strong water-absorbing capacity, safety from parthenogenetic bacteria, no holes, uniform wrinkles, and no impurities. Tissue paper’s ability to help hold its shape is bad for pipes, septic systems, and water treatment plants. It should not be flushed down a toilet because it will not dissolve as toilet paper and can cause clogs and blockages. To Flush or Not to Flush In Taiwan people throw used toilet paper into a tiny open trash can, which may come as a surprise to visitors. Nevertheless, the Ministry of Environment has declared a new policy to encourage people to flush toilet paper like many developed countries. Flushing toilet paper has a lot of benefits such as reducing environmental hygiene issues. It can prevent mosquito breeding, eliminate the possibility of bacteria or infectious diseases, reduce bad smell in restrooms, and decrease the need of purchasing trash bags. It can provide a better restroom experience and increase the hygiene safety of users and cleaners. Also, a significant advantage is that it can decrease the amount of trash. People in Taiwan use up to 340 tons of waste paper in restrooms a day, and all of it cannot be recycled. It costs 1.57 million dollars a day and almost 600 million dollars a year to clean up. Concerns
Unfortunately, most people still have the habit of not flushing toilet paper. Two reasons. Not every restroom comes with toilet paper, so many people use their own, which is often tissue paper, one of the toughest to dissolve, rather than toilet paper. Second, people are worried about clogs and blockages so there are signs telling you to throw the paper into a trash can due to plumbing issues. According to the Ministry of Environment News, if there is no problem in daily flushing, there should not be a problem flushing toilet paper. The clogs and blockages are often caused by changes in the water pipes and not toilet paper. Besides, the length of toilet paper fiber is under 0.4 centimeters while the average length of human feces fiber is much longer. Even if the toilet paper is more than two layers, it can still easily dissolve. Solution In terms of squatting and sitting toilets, two kinds of toilets should be provided for people with different needs to use. As for flushing toilet paper, the government should advertise more to encourage people to flush toilet paper and how it differs from other kind of paper. a
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The Taida Student Journal has been active since 1995 with an ever-changing roster of student journalists at NTU. Click the above link to read about the authors Archives
May 2024
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