A holiday gift for rivers: Don’t flush Christmas down the drain
The festive season is a time of joy and celebration but it also poses hidden risks to our important waterways. As we indulge in a Christmas frenzy of cooking and cleaning, The Rivers Trusts urges the public to remember our rivers and streams.
19/12/23
The festive season is a time of joy and celebration but it also poses hidden risks to our important waterways. As we indulge in a Christmas frenzy of cooking and cleaning, The Rivers Trusts urges the public to remember our rivers and streams.
Inappropriate disposal of various substances, especially during the holiday season, can severely impact our freshwater environments. Across the UK, there are approximately 300,000 sewer blockages annually, costing the economy £100 million. Thousands of properties suffer sewer flooding, creating misery for homeowners and businesses, leading to high clean-up bills and increased insurance costs.
Only the 3 Ps (pee, poo, and paper) should be flushed down the toilet. By not flushing items such as wet wipes, cotton buds, condoms, nappies, contact lenses, hair, masks, sanitary products or plasters down the toilet, or things like oils, butter, or cooking sauces down drains, we can have a positive impact on river health.
The increased use of cooking oils, fats, and greases, along with the disposal of many of the other items listed above, can create dense blockages in our sewage systems; these blockages, often termed ‘fatbergs’. Through Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs), untreated wastewater also flows into our rivers with alarming frequency during the wet winter months, meaning that all of these items - chemical and physical - contaminate rivers, impact water quality and harm wildlife.
With an increase in of holiday house guests and visitors, the festive season often sees a rise in the use of cleaning products, many of which contain harsh chemicals harmful to freshwater ecosystems. We encourage the use of eco-friendly alternatives to minimise this impact.
To have a greener Christmas and to play your part in protect our rivers this winter, The Rivers Trusts advises against disposing of the following substances down sinks, drains, and toilets:
- Cooking Oils and Grease: Allow them to cool and solidify before disposing of them in the bin or take them to a recycling centre.
- Food Scraps: Scrape plates into the food waste bin or a compost heap to prevent blockages.
- Coffee Grounds and Tea Leaves: Compost them or add to your food waste bin instead of washing them away.
- Cleaning Products: Choose biodegradable and eco-friendly products.
- Paints and Chemicals: Dispose of these at local recycling centres.
- Medications: Return unused or expired medications to a pharmacy.
- Cosmetics and Personal Care Products: Opt for products without microbeads and harmful chemicals.
- Wrapping Paper, Plastic and Other Non-Dissolvable Items: Dispose of these in the bin.
- Pet Flea, Worm, and Tick Treatments: These often contain chemicals that can be toxic to freshwater life. Dispose of them as advised by your vet and switch to natural alternatives.
- Microplastics: Avoid products with microplastics, which can pollute waterways and harm wildlife. Or wash items such as plastic-based clothing in microfiber-filtering bags, which catch the tiny pieces of plastic shed during each wash and spin cycle before the water drains away.
The Rivers Trust is committed to the sustainability of our waterways and believes that community efforts play a crucial role in protecting our natural environment. It's worth remembering that by being mindful of what we pour down our drains, we can make a significant difference in the health of our rivers.
This Christmas, let's all do our part to ensure our rivers stay healthy and vibrant for future generations. Let's celebrate responsibly and sustainably.