The Think Before You Flush campaign, in collaboration with Uisce Éireann, attended a Wicklow PPN Roadshow in Wicklow Town on Monday October 14th. As part of the Connecting Communities Roadshow, the TBYF team setup an information stand to encourage people of all ages to cultivate responsible flushing behaviors and to pledge their commitment to the campaign. This initiative aims to raise awareness about the detrimental effects of flushing sanitary products and other damaging items down the toilet and to promote responsible waste management practices.
The “Think Before You Flush” campaign emphasises the importance of appropriate flushing behaviour and disposal of items including wipes and other sanitary products in the bin, even if they are labelled as flushable. Only the 3 Ps, pee, poo and paper should be flushed down the toilet. When items such as wet wipes are flushed down the toilet, they can cause serious blockages in sewage systems, causing sewage overflows and ultimately polluting our coastal waters and beaches.
The Wicklow PPN hosted their annual Connecting Communities Roadshows across 5 municipal districts in the county over the month of October. The Roadshow offered local communities the opportunity to engage with the Local Authority, other Agencies and local groups/organisations working in and supporting Wicklow communities. There was also an opportunity for community groups to access training, information and support. The Think Before You Flush team operated an information stand, inviting parents to engage in discussions about marine litter, wastewater treatment, and how as parents we can safeguard our wastewater network and coastal habitats.
The team also discussed the Think Before You Pour campaign that looks at the issue of pouring fats, oils, and greases (FOGs) from cooking down the kitchen sink. Instead of flowing freely, FOG’s cool and harden as they travel along the wastewater network. When FOGs combine with sewage related litter such as wipes, hair and dental floss fatbergs can form. Uisce Éireann clears hundreds of blockages, including fatbergs, from the wastewater network every week. The Think Before Pour campaign urges everyone to avoid washing FOGs down the kitchen drain and, instead, dispose of them in the bin once cool.
Speaking about the event Sinéad Keogh from Clean Coasts said: “We are thankful to Wicklow PPN for inviting us to be part of this event. We are delighted to be in Wicklow and engage in conversations about the Think Before You Flush campaign with the parents of this community. Sewage-related litter poses a real burden on our wastewater network and marine environment. The wonderful news is that the solution is straightforward. Only flush the 3 Ps (pee, poo, and paper) down the toilet. Everything else belongs in the bin. Through collaboration, we can support better flushing behaviour and deliver a tangible positive impact on our natural environment.”
Uisce Éireann’s Head of Wastewater Operations, Nuala Woods, is thrilled that Wicklow PPN and local communities across Wicklow are taking the initiative to advocate for responsible waste management practices: “We know from our research that attitudes and flushing behaviours are changing for the better, but there is still work to do. Almost a million people nationally are still using the toilet as a bin. We are asking people to always ‘Think Before You Flush’ and take a simple action such as putting a bin in the bathroom. Small changes in flushing habits will go a long way in protecting our precious environment.”