The Think Before You Flush and Pour campaigns, operated by Clean Coasts in partnership with Uisce Éireann, had a presence at this year’s National Marine Environment Conference organised by Green Schools. The conference is a gathering of students and teachers from across the country to learn more about how they can help in protecting Irelands stunning marine ecosystems and the animals that depend on them. The campaigns urged attendees to only ever flush the 3 P’s, down the toilet, that’s pee, poo and paper (stick everything else in the bin) and to avoid pouring fat, oils and greases from cooking down the kitchen sink.
Flushing items such as wipes down our toilets can lead to blockages in our wastewater network, treatment plants and sewage overflows and can result in sewage related litter on our beaches, in our oceans, damaging water quality and our marine environment. Many toiletries, such as wet wipes, cotton pads and dental floss, are part of the ‘Dirty Dozen’, which are the top 12 items that are incorrectly flushed down the toilet in Ireland. Other items include hair; paper towels; medicine; sanitary products; food items; contact lenses; condoms; cigarette butts; and cotton bud sticks.
The conference was held in the Radisson Hotel in Sligo with 132 students and 21 teachers from 9 schools attending the event. During the event students also learnt about the Think Before You Pour campaign. This campaign highlights the issue of pouring fats, oils, and greases (FOGs) from cooking down the kitchen sink. Instead of flowing freely, FOGs cool and harden as they travel along the wastewater network. When these FOGs combine with wipes and other sewage related litter such as hair and dental floss, fatbergs can form. Uisce Éireann clears approximately 10,000 blockages, including fatbergs, from the wastewater network every year. The Think Before Pour campaign urges everyone to avoid washing or pouring FOGs down the kitchen drain and, instead, dispose of them in the bin once cool.
Speaking about the event, Patrick Cross, Think Before You Flush Campaign Officer said, “we are delighted to have returned to the National Marine Environment Conference for a second year and had a great day interacting with students and teachers from across Ireland. The Flush and Pour campaigns focus on responsible waste management in the home and how this can help keep Irelands marine environments clean and healthy. Events like this offer vital opportunities to interact with young people on important topics and affect life-long positive change.
Uisce Éireann’s Head of Wastewater Operations, Nuala Woods, said: “Every day people flush thousands of sanitary items such as wet wipes and cotton buds down the toilet instead of simply putting them in the bin. This causes blockages in our network, pumping stations and wastewater treatment plants and can lead to sewage overflows impacting some of our most beautiful coastal and river locations. We clear approximately 10,000 blockages from our wastewater network every year. We are delighted to continue our partnership with Clean Coasts to preserve and protect our environment and shine a light on the link between what you flush down the toilet and can end up at your local river or beach. We hope the students and teachers attending this important conference will continue to Think Before You Flush.”