The Think Before You Flush campaign, operated by Clean Coasts in partnership with Uisce Éireann, visited Sligo University Hospital this month to kick off a new collaboration that aims to reduce the amount of unsuitable items being flushed down their toilets and the blockages they can create. The project, which is being launched this Easter, will focus on educating visitors and staff at the hospital on the only three items that should ever be flushed down the toilet. Newly designed posters will be hung in toilet cubicles across the hospital, letting everyone know you should only flush pee, poo and paper. All other items, should go in the bin.
Flushing items such as wipes down our toilets can lead to blockages in our wastewater network, treatment plants and sewage overflows and can result in sewage related litter on our beaches and in our oceans, damaging water quality and the 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; sanitary products; food items; contact lenses; condoms; cigarette butts; and cotton bud sticks.
Speaking about the collaboration, Think Before You Flush Campaign Officer Patrick Cross said, “we are excited to be working with Sligo University Hospital on this new initiative. Responsible flushing behaviour is not only important in the home but also when are we out and about, using toilets that are not our own. The fantastic staff at Sligo University Hospital have generously offered to support us in educating their visitors and guests around this issue and we hope this project can bring meaningful change for the hospital by reducing the amount of blockages occurring. If there are other hospitals or primary care facilities in the country that would like collaborate on this issue please feel free to reach out to the Think Before You Flush team and we will support in any way we can.
Martin Casserly, Environment & Waste Co-ordinator at Sligo University Hospital had this to say “ The hospital is thrilled to collaborate with clean coasts on its Think Before You Flush campaign. We fully understand the impact blockages in the wastewater network can have on hospital operations and on the wider environment of which we all share. We are also acutely aware of the impact blockages, for example caused by wet wipes, can have on our own internal network within the hospital and the costs and resources required to address such issues. Given the nature of our business we have many toilets and sinks which feed into the waste water network and given the number of staff, patients and visitors within the hospital on a daily basis we are in a prime position to target a wide and varied cross section of the population. Therefore it makes complete sense for us to be involved in this campaign’’
Uisce Éireann’s Regional Wastewater Senior Manager, Iarla Moran, is thrilled to be joining forces with Sligo University Hospital to safeguard the environment. “We are delighted with the initiative by the facilities team at Sligo University Hospital to support the Think Before You Flush campaign. Every day, thousands of unsuitable items are flushed down toilets across Ireland instead of being put in the bin. This causes blockages in our wastewater systems, ultimately leading to sewer overflows and pollution in our rivers, on our beaches and in the ocean. Every single person in Ireland can play their part in ensuring that toilets are used for their intended purpose, pee, poo, paper. We appreciate the support of the team at Sligo University Hospital in helping to make the change in their facility and spreading the Think Before You Flush message.”