Did you know…
- The ‘Dirty Dozen’ are the top twelve items that are incorrectly flushed down Irish toilets such as wipes, cotton pads, dental floss and food items.
- More than 1 in 10 people still admit to flushing wipes down the toilet- the under 35 age category is most likely to do so, with a third of under 35’s admitting to flushing ‘Dirty Dozen’ items down the toilet.
- Wipes-even ones made with biodegradable materials-don’t decompose when flushed and can end up on our beaches.
- The clogging up or damage to pipes that’s caused through ‘Dirty Dozen’ items is called ‘Ragging.’
- Dental floss is also more likely to build up in machinery in wastewater processes and cause it to breakdown.
- Galway City is one of seventeen ‘Think Before you Flush’ Communities, alongside Gort in County Galway.
Why is disposing of waste in bins as opposed to toilets so important?
- Sewage related litter can end up as far as streams, rivers and beaches and cause a threat to seabirds who could mistake waste, particularly plastic, for food.
- Wet wipes and sanitary products can cause blockages and damage to wastewater treatment processes, which are costly to remove and lead to emergency water overflows that can flood homes and back gardens.
- Overflows and blockages can also happen in households and cause issues with septic tanks.
What can I do to help support the campaign?
- Put a bin in your bathroom for ‘Dirty Dozen’ items
- Use reusable options-such as facial cloths and reusable cotton pads.
- Use plastic free items where possible and dispose of them in the general waste bin.
- Where possible, make DIY alternatives like makeup remover and toner.
- Take the ‘Think Before you flush’ campaign pledge.
Here’s a few websites if you want to know more!
- Think Before You Flush- https://thinkbeforeyouflush.org/
- Clean Coasts- https://cleancoasts.org/ and @CleanCoasts on all social media
- Uisce Eireann- https://www.water.ie/
