Mountcharles Tidy Towns and Clean Coasts group embrace ‘Think Before You Flush’
Mountcharles Tidy Towns Clean Coasts Group worked effortlessly alongside the ‘Think Before You Flush’ campaign to remove 10 bags of litter plus used netting from the local strand and around the piers
Mountcharles Tidy Towns enjoyed their first beach clean event at the old pier.
They Group worked effortlessly alongside the ‘Think Before You Flush’ campaign to remove 10 bags of litter plus used netting from the local strand and around the piers.
Clean Coasts Officer for Donegal, Auriel Robinson, attended the event, introducing the programme to all the eager participants, both young and old of the local area and community, before the clean-up.
She delivered a short talk on the Clean Coasts programme and ethos, showing useful resources that can be used for recording marine biodiversity on our shores and mentioned the incredible marine megafauna that visit Donegal Bay every year.
“Our Oceans and Seas are suffering greatly at a global scale, but we can still do our bit for our own local areas, counties, and indeed country. The more we get together like this, out cleaning our local strands and beaches and raising awareness of same, the healthier our coastal and marine environment will be, and this can be enjoyed by all in the present and the future. Nature will thrive if we look after it, and every little bit helps.”
The ‘Think Before You Flush’ campaign, operated by Clean Coasts in partnership with Uisce Éireann, was then introduced. The purpose of the event was to encourage the people of Mountcharles to protect their local environment to the best of their capabilities and to raise awareness on the incredible marine biodiversity that exists on the shore.
The ‘Think Before You Flush’ campaign works with local communities across Ireland to raise awareness on the issues of flushing unsuitable items down the toilet and highlights the consequences of doing so.
These include blockages in our wastewater network and treatment plants, sewage overflows and sewage-related litter ending up on our beaches and in our natural environment. The campaign message is simple. Only flush the 3Ps (pee, poo, and paper) down the toilet - everything else goes in the bin.
While people appreciate the convenience of disposable wet wipes, facial pads, and dental floss, many are unaware of the problems associated with these items when inappropriately flushed down the toilet.
Research has found that just over one in five adults regularly admit to flushing items down the toilet that are known to cause blockages and can have detrimental effects on the wastewater network and the marine environment. Unlike toilet paper, which is designed to disintegrate quickly in our pipes and sewage systems, these other items do not break down easily.