Malahide Portmarnock communities encouraged to Think Before You Flush.
Think Before You Flush, a campaign operated by Clean Coasts in partnership with Uisce Éireann, joined Malahide Portmarnock Educate Together National School to discuss the environmental issue of sewage-related litter. The campaign has asked the students to help spread the Think Before You Flush message throughout the community.
Think Before You Flush addresses the issue of flushing unsuitable items down the toilet and highlights the consequences of doing so. These include blockages in our wastewater network and treatment plants, and sewage related litter on our beaches and in our oceans, damaging 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; tampons; food items; contact lenses; condoms; cigarette butts; and cotton bud sticks.
Many people love the convenience of disposable wet wipes, facial pads, and dental floss. Most people, however, are unaware of the problems associated with these items when inappropriately flushed down the toilet. Research has found that just over one in five adults regularly admit to flushing items down the toilet that are known to cause blockages and can have detrimental effects on the wastewater network and the marine environment. Unlike toilet paper, which is designed to disintegrate quickly in our pipes and sewage systems, other items do not break down easily.
The students at Malahide Portmarnock Educate Together National School also learnt about the Think Before You Pour campaign. This campaign looks at the issue of pouring fats, oils, and greases (FOGs) from cooking down the kitchen sink. Instead of flowing freely, they 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 200 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.
Liane Costello is a campaign officer with Clean Coasts and speaking about the campaign said “The Think Before You Flush campaign was set up in response to the prevalence of sewage related litter, such as wipes and cotton buds, on Irish beaches. It is essential that the campaign engages people of all ages. Sewage related litter affects us all and must be addressed to help protect our environment and wastewater network. Remember, only flush the 3 P’s (pee, poo, and paper). Everything else goes in the bin.”
Irish Water’s Think Before You Flush Ambassador, Donal Heaney, added. “We hope that the students from Malahide/Portmarnock Educate Together National School enjoyed hearing about the Think Before You Flush campaign. Items like wipes, cotton wool, cotton buds, plasters, sanitary waste dental floss and even hair should never be flushed down the toilet because they can cause blockages in the wastewater network, pumping stations and wastewater treatment plants as well as pollution to our marine environment. We all have a role in safeguarding our environment so to echo Liane, remember that only pee, poo and paper should be flushed down the toilet. Everything else goes in the bin.”
If you are a teacher the Dublin area and would like to book a free workshop, head to, https://thinkbeforeyouflush.org/ and follow @CleanCoasts on social media.