Kildare people urged to "think before you flush" to protect natural environment

The Think Before You Flush campaign is calling on Kildare locals to only flush the 3P’s (pee, poo, and paper) down the toilet and to ensure everything else goes in the bin.

Think Before You Flush a campaign operated by Clean Coasts in partnership with Uisce Éireann, emphasises the importance of proper disposal of sanitary items to help protect our wastewater network and natural environment.

 Flushing inappropriate items, like wet wipes and sanitary products, down the toilet can lead to blockages in our wastewater network as well as sewage overflows that impact our oceans and beaches. Unlike toilet paper, which is designed to disintegrate quickly in our pipes and sewage system, items like wet wipes do not break down. The Think Before You Flush campaign aims to raise awareness about the detrimental effects of flushing sanitary products down the toilet and promote responsible waste management practices. 

During an eco-event hosted by the ACRE Project (A Community Rethinking its Environment), an environmentally friendly community facility located in Celbridge, locals were invited to discuss marine litter, wastewater treatment and the Think Before You Flush campaign with Clean Coasts Officer, Liane Costello.

Speaking about the event, Costello said "We are delighted to have had the opportunity to participate in the eco event hosted by the ACRE Project and engage with such a receptive audience. Our mission is to encourage communities to make informed choices that protect our precious marine ecosystems. This event provides an ideal platform to spread awareness in Kildare about the Think Before You Flush campaign and encourages positive change."

Regional Operations Manager and Uisce Éireann’s Think Before You Flush Ambassador, Jonathan Deane is thrilled that local communities across Ireland are taking the initiative to promote and advocate for responsible waste management practices: “This event is 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.”

Jonathan added; “It is vital to empower long-lasting change to flushing behaviours in Ireland. The Think Before You Flush campaign demonstrates how all of us can play our part in protecting our eco-system by flushing the three Ps (Pee, Poo, and Paper) down the toilet and putting the Dirty Dozen in the bin. It’s that simple.”