• Clean Coasts and Irish Water urge the public to ‘Think Before You Flush’ in a bid to safeguard our environment.

Irish Water and Clean Coasts are urging the public to continue to ‘Think Before You Flush’ as a recent survey has revealed that more than 110,000 people living in Cork continue to regularly flush wipes and other sanitary items down the toilet. Worryingly those aged under 35 are twice as likely to dispose of ‘flushable’ wipes down the toilet, compared to those aged over 35. No wipes whether marked ‘flushable’ or not should be flushed down the toilet. With sea swimming and the use of our beaches increasingly popular all year-round, it’s a timely reminder that our flushing behaviour has a direct impact on the environment and that making small changes can help prevent sanitary waste ending up on Ireland’s sandy beaches, rocky shores and secluded bays.

A new campaign video targeting under 35 years olds aims to connect with this audience in way that encourages real behavioural change.

Broadcaster Bláthnaid Treacy who is also supporting the campaign, said:

I am delighted to support the ‘Think Before You Flush’ campaign. For me, it is important that we all play a positive role when it comes protecting the environment. Collectively, small changes can have a huge impact so I would encourage everyone to consider their flushing habits. It is simple really, just ‘Think Before You Flush’. 

Speaking about the survey results Ian O’Mahony, Irish Water said:

In 2018, our research informed us that 36% of people living in Ireland were regularly flushing the wrong things down the toilet. Irish Water have been working in partnership with Clean Coasts on the ‘Think Before You Flush’ campaign and during this time, we have made significant progress, as this figure has now reduced to 21%. Whilst this represents a 42% improvement in people’s flushing behaviour, it still represents almost a million people nationally using the toilet as a bin: that’s more than 110,000 in Co Cork. The impacts of flushing the wrong things down the toilet are clear to see, as we are still removing thousands of sewer blockages from our network every month and continue to see this waste ending up on our beaches.

Following the latest survey findings, we have a call to action to those aged 35 and under in particular to be mindful of their flushing behaviour as this age profile can really help make the difference. We are keen to remind people that wipes should never be flushed down the toilet even if they are labelled as ‘flushable’. The impact of this waste ending up in our natural environment, on our beaches, shores and riverways is stark. Removing this waste from the sewerage network can be a nasty job which is easily avoided.

Our message is simple: only the 3 Ps, pee, poo and paper should be flushed down the toilet. All other items including wipes and other sanitary products should go in the bin even if they are labelled as flushable. This will reduce the number of sewer blockages, the risk of flooding to homes and businesses and the risk of pollution in the environment harming wildlife such as fish and birds and associated habitats. We have all witnessed the love story unfold between the public and swimming, whether that be at piers, beaches, lakes or rivers. A small change in our flushing behaviour can make a big difference to our natural environment – put wipes, cotton bud sticks and sanitary items in the bin and not down the toilet.

Speaking about the campaign, Sinead McCoy, Clean Coasts said:

The Think Before You Flush campaign, through education and awareness, aims to prevent items like wipes, cotton bud sticks and sanitary items washing up on Ireland’s spectacular beaches. While we have seen a positive improvement in the nation’s flushing behaviour since 2018, one in five adults still admit to regularly flushing unsuitable items down the toilet. By making small changes in our flushing behaviour, we can prevent the harm caused by sewage related litter in our marine environment. We are asking everybody to only flush the 3 P’s – pee, poo and paper – and put everything else in the bin.

Social media:

Facebook: @IrishWater @CleanCoasts

Twitter: @IrishWater @BlathnaidT @CleanCoasts

Instagram: blathnaidt @cleancoasts

#cleancoasts #thinkb4upour thinkbeforeyoupour.org

Think Before You Flush 2022 Video: 

Think Before You Flush animations:

• Puffins being impacted by flushing behavior: https://youtu.be/8uzdo-8foRs 
• John being environmentally friendly: https://youtu.be/SuNlFGJAhcI 

 2022 Think Before You Flush Survey Summary of Results

• In 2022 Irish Water commissioned a survey of the nation’s flushing behaviour. 1,015 adults aged 18+ were surveyed by Behaviour & Attitudes. Where relevant, comparisons to a similar survey undertaken in 2018, 2019 and 2021 are made and assist us in our understanding of the nation’s flushing behaviour over this period. 
• One in five adults (21%) regularly admit to flushing items down the toilet that are known to cause blockages in our wastewater network and treatment plants.  Although this incidence rate is still too high, it represents a positive 42% improvement in the Nations flushing behaviour which was 36% in 2018.
• The frequency of sewage related littering is highest in younger age profiles with close to one fifth (18%) of under 35s admitting to regularly flushing unsuitable items down the toilet (compared to 13% for those aged 35-54 and 9% for those aged 55+). The U35 age profile has seen continued improvement in the reduction of this environmentally harmful behaviour; this was 36% in 2018, now 18% in 2022. Representing an improvement of 50%. However, the disposal of wet wipes labelled as ‘flushable’ down the toilet it greatest amongst the younger U35s age profile (15%) (compared to 8% for those aged 35-54 and 7% for those aged 55+).
• Everyday thousands of unsuitable items are flushed down toilets in Ireland instead of being put in the bin. This causes blockages in our wastewater systems, ultimately leading to sewer overflows and pollution in rivers, on beaches and in the ocean.  
• Historically, the flushing of wipes were the most common items causing blockages in our wastewater network, leading to environmental pollution. Since 2018 we have seen a positive 38% reduction in people flushing wipes down the toilet. This was 18% in 2018, now 11% in 2022. However more than 1 in ten people still admit to flushing wipes down the toilet.
• The most common items being flushed down the toilet are hair, wipes (any), paper towels, toilet wipes, dental floss, cleaning wipes, any other type of wipe, tampons, baby wipes, facial wipes, cotton buds, cigarette butts.   

About Think Before You Flush campaign

Think Before You Flush is a public awareness campaign about the problems sanitary products and other items can cause in the plumbing in our homes, our wastewater network and our marine environment when they are flushed down the toilet. The campaign is operated by Clean Coasts (An Taisce) in partnership with Irish Water. 

TBYF is about changing people’s flushing behaviour – like never using the toilet to dispose of items such as nappies / wipes / cotton bud sticks / food / plasters etc. Having a bin in the bathroom can help. Think Before You Pour focuses on raising awareness of the issues caused by pouring fats, oils and greases down the drain and provides advice on how to dispose of these correctly.

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