This year Inishowen Development Partnership, Buncrana Tidy Towns and Wild Inishowen again joined forces to deliver the Wild Inishowen Mid-Summer Celebrations of Nature and the Think Before You Flush campaign was in attendance to raise awareness on the issue of flushing unsuitable items down the toilet and the consequences of doing so. The event celebrates community and honours those in Inishowen who champion sustainability and environmental protection. The occasion highlighted the wide array of activities throughout the peninsula and recognised the individuals and groups dedicated to enhancing biodiversity, water quality, soil health, and practicing sustainable approaches to safeguard and rehabilitate the environment. Alongside games and informational resources, visitors were given free pollinator plants and moth traps, supporting the opportunity to continue exploring nature in their own homes and gardens.
Preserving the rich and diverse natural environment of the Inishowen peninsula is critically important and the Think Before You Flush campaign were delighted to join the many local groups working for the protection of this valuable ecosystem. The Think Before You Flush campaign is a public awareness initiative run by Clean Coasts in partnership with Uisce Éireann. The programme, now in its eighth year, focuses on the issue of flushing unsuitable items down the toilet which can cause blockages in our homes and wastewater treatment networks resulting in sewage related litter ending up in our waterways and on our coastline. Sewage related litter can impact water quality and the marine life that rely on our waterways for their habitat and nourishment. The campaign’s main message is to only flush the 3Ps: pee, poo and paper down the toilet and to remember that all other waste belongs in the bin.
On the day the Think Before You Pour campaign was also discussed, which highlights the issue of pouring fats, oils, and greases (FOGs) from cooking down the kitchen sink. FOGs cool and harden after being poured away and when they combine with wet wipes and other sewage related litter, fatbergs can form. Uisce Éireann clears thousands of blockages, including fatbergs, from the wastewater network every year. The Think Before Pour campaign asks everyone to never pour FOGs down the drain but to dispose of them in the bin once cool instead.
Speaking at the event Clean Coasts Officer, Alena Kunkel, said: “It is great to see the community and the various groups active in Inishowen come together during the Wild Inishowen Mid-Summer celebrations to learn about biodiversity and sustainable actions. One such action that we promote and which is easy to follow from your home is to Think Before You Flush. Through education and awareness, the campaign aims to prevent items like wipes, cotton bud sticks and sanitary items washing up on Ireland’s shores. One of the strengths of the campaign is working with local communities such as Buncrana to spread this important message.”