Sewage-derived pollution, Unblocktober and the health of our rivers
Plastic pollution has become a hot topic in the past years for obvious reasons. Plastic waste can now be found everywhere: in remote places such as Antarctica, unpopulated islands like Henderson Island in the Pacific Ocean, at high altitudes in The Pyrenees, and even in the deepest part of the ocean, the Mariana Trench. There are many recognisable means through which plastic makes its way into the environment: littering, fly-tipping, and poor waste management being some of those. However, when we think about rivers and seas, one equally important source of plastic pollution, even if accidental due to lack of information, comes from our habits at home, more specifically in the toilet.
As the ‘Unblocktober’ national campaign takes place this month, we’d like to highlight that the protection of our freshwater and marine ecosystems starts at home. Unblocktober is the world’s first campaign and awareness month dedicated to promoting the health of our drains, sewers, rivers and seas. The alarming stats that 1.8 billion cotton buds are flushed every year and that 48% of the British public have flushed wet wipes show the urgent need to increase awareness about how harmful these practices are.
According to the Marine Conservation Society’s 2017 Great British Beach Clean, 8.5% of litter washed up on beaches came from products that have been inappropriately flushed down the toilet. This sewage-related debris contributes to sewer blockages which in turn leads to sewage spills in our rivers and seas. Anything other than the 3 Ps (pee, poo, and paper) shouldn’t be flushed. Common items usually disposed of in the toilets are wet wipes, cleansing pads, nappies, sanitary products, dental floss, contact lenses, and others. Frequently, these contain some kind of plastic fibres, non-woven fabrics like polyester and other chemicals that prevent them from biodegrading. Products containing plastic can take approximately 500 years to biodegrade. It’s also important to mention that even items (commonly wet wipes) labelled as ‘flushable’ shouldn’t be flushed as they might contain hidden non-woven fibres that don’t biodegrade easily.
Many issues come hand in hand with sewage blockages: foul waste flooding; expensive and time-consuming works to repair the network, which can lead to inconveniences such as roadworks; and pollution. When sewage-related debris reaches our rivers and seas, it negatively impacts biodiversity. It can be contaminated with bacteria and harmful chemicals affecting water quality and oxygen levels and break down into tiny particles which make their way into the food chain, affecting the ecosystem as a whole.
Changing our habits at home can have a powerful and vital impact on the health of our rivers and ocean. Don’t flush anything other than pee, poo and paper. Everything else should go in the bin. What goes in our sinks is equally relevant: don’t pour down oils, fats, and grease as these also contribute to blockages and fatbergs.
While these may seem like small changes, there’s no action too small when it comes to protecting nature. We know this alone won’t solve the massive pollution issue affecting the environment, but it certainly helps. Multi-stakeholder action from businesses, governments, policymakers and water companies is needed to turn off the plastic tap, develop sustainable materials, and improve sewage infrastructure. In the current biodiversity and climate crises we’re experiencing, doing everything we can to have a positive impact has never been more important.