Think Before You Flush, a campaign operated by Clean Coasts in partnership with Uisce Éireann, visited the libraries in Rush and Baldoyle on Wednesday, 23rd September to discuss the environmental issue of sewage-related litter, in particular, wet wipes. The campaign has asked the 4th class students from Rush National School and 6th class students from St. Laurence’s National School to help spread the Think Before You Flush message throughout the community. Clean Coasts were delighted to be asked by Fingal Libraries to carry out these school workshops in the lovely Rush Library and Baldoyle Library.
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.
While people appreciate the convenience of disposable wet wipes, facial pads, and dental floss many 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, these other items do not break down easily.
The school students who attended the Rush and Baldoyle Libraries also learned 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. When FOGs cool down, they harden and combined with wipes and other litter items such as hair and dental floss, they can create fatbergs causing sewage overflows in our homes and businesses, polluting our rivers, lakes and seas.
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.
Aisling Kennedy, campaign officer with Clean Coasts, conducted the workshops and 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.
Echoing Aisling’s words, Nuala Woods, Head of Wastewater Operations at Uisce Éireann commented:
Everyday people flush thousands of sanitary items, such as wet wipes and cotton buds, down the toilet instead of simply putting them in the bin. This causes blockages in our network, pumping stations and wastewater treatment plants and can lead to sewage overflows impacting some of our most beautiful coastal and river locations. We clear approximately 10,000 blockages from our wastewater network every year. Through our partnership with Clean Coasts, we work to preserve and protect our environment and shine a light on the link between what you flush down the toilet and can end up at your local river or beach.