Think Before You Flush, a campaign operated by Clean Coasts in partnership with Uisce Éireann, joined Presentation Secondary School, Tralee to discuss the environmental issue of sewage-related litter. Think Before You Flush 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 Think Before You Flush campaign was set up in response to the prevalence of sewage related litter, such as wet 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, sewage systems and wastewater network. Remember, only ever flush the 3 P’s (pee, poo, and paper). Everything else goes in the bin.”
Speaking about the Think Before You Flush campaign, Head of Water Operations for Uisce Éireann, Margaret Attridge said: ”We hope that the students from Presentation Secondary School in Tralee enjoyed hearing about the Think Before You Flush campaign. Sewage related litter is polluting our marine, coastal, and river environments and putting unnecessary pressure on Ireland’s wastewater infrastructure. Every single person in Ireland can play their part in ensuring that toilets are used for their intended purpose; pee, poo, and paper. We hope the students enjoyed the workshop and will continue to Think Before They Flush.”