Unblocktober is the world’s first month-long national campaign and awareness month to improve the health of our drains, sewers, watercourses and seas. It is a public awareness campaign that focuses on the health of our sewers, rivers and seas – and how we can help protect them.
The first ever Unblocktober was held in October 2019 as a challenge to individuals and businesses alike. It asked volunteers to pledge not to pour or flush any potentially harmful or damaging items and substances down their drains for the whole month of October. As of 2023, the total lifetime number of Unblocktober participants is over 68,000!
The Unblocktober campaign, by Lanes Group, runs every October. Above is their mascot, called Sploosh!
Why is Unblocktober important to us at FRT?
Small changes = big impact
At the Trust, we know the need for Unblocktober – from sewage outfall screens coated in wet wipe rags, to nappies floating by on the river, our staff have seen some sights while out and about! We’ve seen the good, the bad and the ugly, and it’s up to all of us to make changes and be part of the bigger picture to make a positive difference.
Below: Some figures from Scottish Water about wet wipes and their impact on our sewers.
There are plenty of tips on the Unblocktober website to help reduce your impact on our rivers, sewers and seas, including posters you can print out to spread awareness. Scottish Water’s ‘Nature Calls’ campaign also has some great graphics which summarise all the information you might need about what NOT to put down your drain or loo (such as above). Remember and share your tips with those around you!
Below: Wet wipes are a major factor in causing sewage flooding in Scotland, requiring teams being deployed to clear the blockages, costing more than £200 per incident (photo credit: Scottish Water).
Here’s some #Unblocktober tips tried and tested by Forth Rivers Trust staff members:
• Get yourself a sink strainer. These are cost-effective drain protectors that sit in the plughole of your kitchen sink, catching any food waste and debris before it heads down the drain – meaning you can put it in food waste or bin it. One of our staff found one in their local Tesco for £1!
• Consider using sustainable alternatives to products eg. reusable makeup wipes, eco-friendly cotton buds, washable cloth sanitary products or menstrual cups.
• Fat, oil, and grease (FOG) left in pans and trays after cooking should be collected in a container, left to cool and congeal, and once solidified, binned. Here’s how you can make your own ‘gunk pot’ to collect FOG waste! Remember to give plates and pans an extra wipe before they go into the sink or dishwasher, again reducing the risk of fat, oil and grease getting into our waterways and causing environmentally-damaging fatbergs.
• If you don’t already have a bathroom bin, investing in one can save the temptation to flush items that shouldn’t be.
• Raise awareness amongst friends, family, and even your workplace! Get them to join in on the Unblocktober pledge!
Last but certainly not least, there’s one thing you can do right now to help protect our rivers, sewers and seas. We’re asking our supporters to get in touch with their MP today to support an effective plastic wet wipe ban.
Following a consultation which 95% of the public voted in favour for, in April 2024 we saw the UK government announce a ban on the sale of plastic wet wipes, set to happen in 2026 following a transition period. However, we don’t feel this progress is quick enough, and while we wait, our sewers, rivers and seas are subject to incidents like the ones below:
Above: Rag, also known as what our wet wipes turn into when they reach our rivers/seas – downstream from a combined sewage overflow (CSO) in Midlothian.
To do your part for the end of Unblocktober, we would like YOU to get in touch with your MP and show your support for an effective wet wipe ban.
Here’s a suggested paragraph which you can send them.
Subject: Support an Effective Wet Wipe Ban and Protect Our Environment
Dear [MP’s Name],
The yearly Unblocktober campaign may be over, but the urgent need to protect our rivers, seas, and sewers continues.
In April 2024 the UK Government announced it will ban plastic wet wipes following public consultation which saw 95% support for this. However, we are currently in a transition period with no updates on a timeline or actions being taken to encourage manufacturers to move to a position where all their wet wipes are plastic free.
I am writing to you hoping that you will support a robust plastic wet wipe ban by:– Ensuring a clearer timeline for the proposed transition period, available to the general public
– Enforcing strict “do not flush” labelling instead of misleading “flushable” or “biodegradatable” claims, to help change public habits and stop wet wipes reaching our sewers, rivers and seas.
– Championing awareness campaigns like Unblocktober to educate the public on this issue.
Please also urge government to consider further measures on single-use plastics and effectively prevent them from polluting our waterways. Your support can make a meaningful difference, and raising this issue in parliament will highlight the government’s interest in protecting our natural environment from damaging plastic pollution. Given the declining health of our sewers, rivers and seas in the UK and the importance of this issue, I look forward to hearing an update from you on the matter.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Please take 5 minutes to get in touch with your MP and have your say, supporting the consultation and, most importantly, making a difference for everything living in our rivers and seas!
