ECJ EUROPEAN Cleaning Journal

People in Ireland are being urged to "think before they flush" following a survey on people's waste disposal habits.

A recent study revealed that an increasing number of people were flushing wet wipes, cotton buds and other unsuitable sanitary items down the toilet despite a sharp drop in the practice five years ago.

Uisce Éireann and Clean Coasts are behind the "Think Before You Flush" campaign which is also being backed by swimming and outdoor advocates.

"In 2018 our research showed that 36 per cent of people living in Ireland were regularly flushing the wrong things down the toilet," said Uisce Éireann's Tom Cuddy.

"We are pleased to announce that this figure has significantly decreased to 24 per cent. But while this one-third decrease is certainly encouraging, it is crucial to acknowledge that it represents a slight increase compared to recent years."

According to the study, flushing is particularly prevalent in the under 35s who were almost twice as likely to dispose of the wrong products down the toilet as those aged 35 and over. And this younger age group were almost three times as likely to flush away wipes and other products as the over-55s.

"We know the awareness is there, we are just asking people to take a moment to consider their flushing habits and put litter in the bin rather than down the toilet," said Cuddy.

"The impact of removing these products from our wastewater system is immense, and they can ultimately end up on our beaches and rivers right across the country."