For Science Week 2024 the Think Before You Flush team hit the Wild Atlantic Way to attend a trio of events and spread the news that only the 3 P’s (pee, poo and paper) should ever be flushed down the toilet, everything else should go in the bin. On the 10th of November the campaign visited the Atlantic Technological University in Sligo Town to attend the annual Sligo Science Week Festival. On the 12th the destination was Kenmare in County Kerry to deliver a workshop to the students of Cahir National School and finally on the 16th, to the beautiful town of Westport in County Mayo for the wild and wonderful Circus Science by the Sea festival.
The “Think Before You Flush” campaign, operated by Clean Coasts in partnership with Uisce Éireann, 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. 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 sewage systems, causing sewage overflows and ultimately polluting our coastal waters and beaches.
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, FOG’s 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 hundreds of 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.
Speaking about the events Patrick Cross, Think Before You Flush Campaign Officer had this to say: ‘Science Week is a national celebration of science with hundreds of events for people of all ages taking place across Ireland. This year’s theme is harnessing the power of regeneration, focusing on how decisions we make today will impact future generations. This theme suits the purpose of the Think Before You Flush and Pour campaigns perfectly! What we flush down our toilets and pour down our sinks impacts the natural environment, our waste water networks and each other. The great 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. We are delighted to have contributed to this trio of Science Week events and really value the opportunity to interact with people from a variety of locations across the Wild Atlantic Way. Special thanks to Green Schools Education Officer, Robert Nelson for doing a great job representing Think Before You Flush at the event in Westport.’
Uisce Éireann’s Head of Wastewater Operations, Nuala Woods, is thrilled that groups along the Wild Atlantic Way are taking the initiative to promote and advocate for responsible waste management practices during Science Week. “These events are crucially important to enhance community awareness about the need to protect our precious environment. Many of these items discarded down the toilets of Ireland can end up in our streams, rivers, and on our beaches, creating a significant threat to wildlife as seabirds often ingest plastic and sewage related litter, mistaking it for food. We know from our research that attitudes and flushing behaviours are changing for the better, but there is still work to do. Almost a million people nationally are still using the toilet as a bin. We are asking people to always ‘Think Before You Flush’ and take a simple action such as putting a bin in the bathroom. Small changes in flushing habits will go a long way in protecting our precious environment.”
What Can We Do?
Join the campaign on social media @CleanCoasts and at www.cleancoasts.org. Learn more about the Think Before You Flush campaign at https://thinkbeforeyouflush.
