Think Before You Flush, a campaign operated by Clean Coasts in partnership with Uisce Éireann, joined Presentation Secondary School, Tralee at Banna beach to discuss marine protection and conservation with a focus on litter and sewage related litter in a gorgeous early September outdoor setting. The Think Before You Flush campaign 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 campaign has asked the students to help spread the Think Before You Flush message throughout their community.
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. Unlike toilet paper, which is designed to disintegrate quickly in water, these other items do not break down easily. Only the 3 Ps (pee, poo and paper) should be flushed down the toilet. When items such as wet wipes are flushed, they can cause serious blockages in sewage systems, damage wastewater networks and ultimately pollute our rivers, lakes, beaches and coastal waters.
The students of Presentation Secondary School Tralee also learnt 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, FOGs cool and harden as they travel along the wastewater network. When FOGs combine with sewage related litter fatbergs can form. Uisce Éireann clears thousands of blockages, including fatbergs, from the wastewater and sewage networks every year. 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.
Clean Coasts campaign officer Elaine Doyle had this to say: “The students of Presentation Secondary School have always been really engaged in environmental issues with a focus on their locality and the ocean. The outdoor classroom on the beach was a perfect location to talk about our role in the importance of keeping the ocean litter free. The students did a beach clean and a surf lesson, really learning about the importance of enjoying and protecting our ocean.”