15 things not to put down the drain during unblocktober (and the rest of the year too!)
We’ve only just come across this brilliant campaign, and we know we’re slightly late. But wonderfully, all the same principles from Unblocktober apply throughout the rest of the year too, so you can take up the challenge yourself whenever you like.
What is Unblocktober?
Unblocktober is the world’s first month-long national campaign and awareness month to improve the health of our drains, sewers, watercourses and seas – driven completely by the British public.
Why Unblocktober?
Britain’s sewer network is under ever-increasing pressure – because of our irresponsible actions over the course of many decades. For too long we have consistently flushed and poured dangerous liquids and items into our drains.
This leads to the creation of fatbergs – enormous masses of congealed fat, oil, grease, wetwipes, period care products, cotton buds, condoms, nappies, bandages and much more – which block drains and sewers and cause them to work less efficiently than they should.
Do you want to help reduce the amount of plastic entering our seas and rivers?
Do you want to help fight environmentally-damaging fatbergs?
Well, it’s easier than you think. Through Unblocktober, you can make small changes to your habits and the way you dispose of certain everyday items in order to make big changes to the environment - at a time when it needs our help more than ever.
48% of the British public have flushed wet wipes
180 million - estimated number of cotton buds flushed down our toilets each year
48% of the nation pour fats, oils and grease (FOG) down their drains
When sewers and drains get blocked, it can cause any or all of the following:
Foul waste flooding
Pollution
Excavation and repair, causing road works
However, it can also lead to plastic pollution, which, as we all know, is another global crisis that we need to fight.
Nappies, period care products, cotton buds and many of the other items we list below are non-biodegradable because they contain hidden plastics.
Putting them in our drains increases the chances of plastic making its way into our rivers and seas - into which approximately 8 million pieces of plastic find their way every day.
How to get involved
All we want is for you to pay more attention to what you put down the drain this October (or any month!) and commit to putting NONE of the following 15 items down your drains or toilets for the whole month.
1. Cooking oil
2. Food – even crumbs!
3. Butter
4. Margarine
5. Lard
6. Cooking sauce
7. Wet wipes
8. Period products: tampons, applicators, wrappers, menstrual towels and pads
9. Condoms
10. Cotton buds
11. Contact lenses
12. Bandages and plasters
13. Dental floss
14. Razor blades
If you want even more info about fatbergs, drains, sewers and blockages (classy – we know!) then head over to the brilliant Unblocktober website to find out more, or even sign yourself up for their campaign.