On Tuesday, October 14th, The Think Before You Flush team headed to University College Cork during Climate Action Week to talk to students about sewage-related litter. The event encouraged the students of UCC to cultivate responsible flushing behaviours and to pledge their commitment to the, Think Before You Flush campaign. This initiative 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 Think Before You Flush campaign, operated by Clean Coasts in partnership with Uisce Éireann, emphasises the importance of appropriate flushing behaviour and the disposal of items including wipes and other sanitary products in the bin, even if they are labelled as flushable. Only the 3 Ps, pee, poo and paper should be flushed down the toilet. When items such as wet wipes are flushed down the toilet, they can cause serious blockages in our plumbing, damage our waste-water networks and lead to sewage overflows that pollute our rivers, lakes, beaches and coastlines.
The team also discussed 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 such as wipes, hair and dental floss, fatbergs can form. Uisce Éireann clears thousands of blockages, including fatbergs, from the wastewater network every year. The Think Before You Pour campaign urges everyone to avoid washing FOGs down the kitchen drain and, instead, dispose of them in the bin once cool.
Nuala Woods, Uisce Éireann’s Head of Wastewater Operations said: “We hope the many students who took time during Climate Action Week to learn about the Think Before You Flush/Pour campaigns will support Uisce Éireann’s ongoing efforts to preserve and protect our precious environment. We know from our research that attitudes and flushing behaviours are changing for the better, but there is still work to do. These events are crucially important to raise awareness of what can and can’t be flushed down the toilet or poured down the sink.”
Patrick Cross, Campaign Officer for Think Before You Flush, had this to say: “We are delighted to visit UCC during Climate Action Week and engage in conversations about the Think Before You Flush campaign with the students. Sewage-related litter poses a real burden on our wastewater network and marine environment. The wonderful news is that the solution is straightforward. Only flush the 3 Ps (pee, poo, and paper) down the toilet. Everything else belongs in the bin. Through collaboration, we can support better flushing behaviour and deliver a tangible positive impact on our natural environment.”
Irene Ní Shúilleabháin, Green Campus Greenshoots Coordinator at UCC added: “I am delighted that An Taisce representatives were present at UCC Climate Action Week. The events we have organised span a wide variety of actions we can take to combat environmental crises. Think Before You Flush is a micro-example of the collective action needed to address environmental problems. It also invites us to critique the basis of a consumerist, extractive economic system which continues to sell non-biodegradable, plastic-riddled toiletries to citizens.”