Clean Coasts and TBYF team of Ollie and Anne Marie recently headed to Riverfest in Limerick. The event encouraged people of all ages to cultivate responsible flushing behaviors and to pledge their commitment to the “Think Before You Flush” 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, operated by Clean Coasts in partnership with Uisce Éireann, 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.
Riverfest is a popular four-day festival that offers a wide array of activities, including live music, food, performances, and events for families and individuals. Highlights include Riverfest on the Shannon, BBQ on the Boardwalk, the River festival Village in Arthur’s Quay Park, and the Great Limerick Run. The TBYF stand and game were set up at the Riverfest village where Ollie O’ Flaherty and Anne Marie Kirwin of Clean Coasts enegaged with up to 100 members of the public using the BIN IT game which created lots of fun and competitiveness. It was a fun filled way to spread the message of TBYF and to demonstrate the importance of only flushing the 3 P’s down the toilet.
The team also discussed with the public about 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 day Ollie O’ Flaherty from Clean Coasts said: “We are thankful to Riverfest for inviting us to be part of this festival. We are having a fantastic day with an amazing day engaging with the public using our BIN IT game and soaking up the wonderful atmosphere at the Riverfest Village with music, acts and fantastic live music! It’s a great opportunity to engage with the wider public here in Limerick City to showcase the importance of the TBYF and TBYP campaigns and how it effects all our lives. 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, added: “We hope that those attending Riverfest enjoyed hearing about the Think Before You Flush campaign. We all have a role in safeguarding our environment. 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.”