The Think Before You Flush team were delighted to attend the Tidy Towns seminar in the Ballygarry Hotel, in Tralee where they met many group volunteers and discussed all things Think Before You Flush. This event was held by Clean Coasts as part of our annual Clean Coasts Roadshow. The Clean Coasts Roadshow is a series of informative talks, events and workshops tailored for coastal communities across Ireland, taking place between January and May each year. This initiative brings together individuals interested in protecting their local beaches, seas, and marine environments. These events also serve as a platform for community groups to discuss practical matters, such as building volunteer capacity, attracting new members, and sharing responsibilities.
The Think Before You Flush campaign is a public awareness campaign run by Clean Coasts in partnership with Uisce Éireann. The main message of the campaign is simple: only flush the 3Ps, (pee, poo and paper) down the toilet and throw all other sanitary waste in the bin. Flushing unsuitable items down the toilet can block sewers, damage wastewater networks and pollute our rivers, lakes and beautiful beaches, of which Kerry boasts many. Such pollution also impacts the animals and plants that rely on these locations for their survival.
The Think Before You Flush team had an information stand at the event where the conversations centred around sewage related litter in local towns and beaches and the responsibility we all have in our homes to help keep our waterways litter free. The team also talked about the issue of pouring fats, oils, and greases (FOGs) from cooking down the kitchen sink. These FOGs can combine with other sewage related litter to form fatbergs. 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.
Uisce Éireann’s Head of Wastewater Operations, Nuala Woods commended the efforts of Tidy Towns groups across Kerry, adding: “It’s great to see the commitment of Tidy Towns groups across Kerry and the fantastic work they do to protect their local environment. Simple actions really can make a big difference, and we’re encouraging everyone to Think Before You Flush, as many of the items discarded down the toilets of Ireland can end up in our streams, rivers, and on our beaches, creating a significant threat to wildlife as seabirds often ingest plastic and sewage related litter, mistaking it for food. Working with community groups like Tidy Towns is a really effective way to share this message, and like them, Uisce Éireann is focused on improving the local environment for the benefit of everyone.”
Elaine from Clean Coasts who was at the event said. “The Tidy Towns groups do such amazing and dedicated work, this event highlights some of their fantastic projects and it is wonderful to meet the representatives who are very involved with the Clean Coast programme and Think Before You Flush campaign. Whether by the coast or another water body these groups are doing amazing work keeping our towns, villages and waterways clean.”