Q: What is the Lewiston Eco-Travel green guide?

A: The Lewiston Eco-Travel green guide is a downloadable checklist and set of best-practice protocols for minimizing your waste and water footprint while cruising the Yangtze River. It covers toilet paper compatibility, sink water reuse, and proper disposal of non-biodegradable items.

Mike’s Sanitation Context: Most Yangtze cruise ships run on a Macerator-style waste system, which uses a mix of river water and a grinding pump to move sewage to holding tanks. The guide focuses on this exact infrastructure—it tells you exactly what toilet paper grade (single-ply, septic-safe) won't jam the pumps, and how much liquid waste your cabin's gray water tank can hold before the system backs up. Ignoring this guide is the number one reason passengers cause a "Code Brown" (blocked line) before Wanzhou. The guide also maps out where ship wastewater is discharged (treated, not raw) and which shore-side facilities in Lewiston have proper sanitation hookups.

Actionable Advice: Print the guide before you board; don't rely on ship Wi-Fi to pull it up. Pay special attention to Section 3 ("The Flush Protocol")—it tells you exactly how many squares of paper are safe per flush for your specific cabin toilet model. If you pack wet wipes or feminine products, you are directly violating the guide’s mechanical specs. Carry a small sealable trash bag for those items.