What Happens After You Flush An Airplane Toilet

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9 September 2024

If you've been on a plane, you may have wondered what happens to the waste after someone uses the toilet 


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After all, there's no plumbing available at 30,000 feet. So, how does a toilet work in an airplane? 


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In 1975, James Kemper designed the modern airplane toilet, which had a non-stick bowl, little bit of Skychem, and powerful vacuum suction


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Waste whizzes through the plumbing to the rear of the plane, where its stored in sealed tanks, away from passengers


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Airlines choose how many toilets they want in a plane, and where they want them


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A tank that's filled needs to be emptied – and this is where “honey wagons” come in


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However, toilets do get blocked relatively often


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But what seems like a harmless experiment can end up delaying your flight


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