Positively Green

Every year, we publicise the unblocktober campaign to encourage our staff and patients to learn about the consequences of flushing the wrong things down sinks, toilets and macerators. Last month was no exception!

For decades, the British public have adopted habits at home that - without many of us knowing - have caused our surroundings, watercourses and rivers severe distress. Millions upon millions of us have been putting dangerous liquids and items into our drainage systems and sewers that lead to untold damage to the environment around us. Getting clued up on what can and can’t be flushed through our sewage system will have a tremendous impact on the health of our rivers and surrounding environment, whilst also saving UHP money.

This year’s theme was wipe out wet wipes. Wet wipes might seem harmless, but flushing them can contribute to serious blockages in our drains and sewers, as well as pollution in our waterways. Even wipes labelled “flushable” can cause problems, which is testament to the misleading nature of greenwashing. Whilst the UK government will be introducing legislation restricting the sale and supply of single-use wet wipes containing plastic in 2027, the legislation does not amount to a blanket ban on medical or professional healthcare wipes containing plastic. Plus, so-called biodegradable wet wipes will still be permitted to be sold. As a result, we all still need to be vigilant in ensuring wipes are not flushed down our toilets.

When a wet wipe is flushed down the toilet, it enters a sewer system designed to carry wastewater, toilet paper and human waste - not durable disposable products. Some of Britain’s sewers are much smaller than you might imagine, with most blockages caused by unfushables happening in pipes 175mm wide or smaller. When UHP’s drains get blocked, unflushables like wipes are almost always to blame, as such, we continue to encourage staff and patients to bin wipes rather than chucking them down the toilet or in macerators.

Aside from wipes, lots of other items cause problems when flushed down the toilet, especially when they band together and become gigantic fatbergs. Remember to bag and bin these items:

• Cooking oil

• Food

• Butter, margarine and lard

• Cooking sauce

• Tampons and sanitary towels

• Nappies

• Condoms

• Cotton buds

• Contact lenses

• Bandages and plasters

• Dental floss

• Razor blades

• Face masks

• Disposable gloves

Visit the Unblocktober website to read more about the campaign and how you can get involved.