This October Hastoe is supporting Unblocktober, a month-long national campaign to improve the health of our drains, sewers, watercourses and seas.
Did you know, putting items, materials and substances into our drainage systems and sewers can lead to extensive environmental damage?
For example:
- More than 3,000 homes are flooded in the UK every year because of fat, oil and grease blockages and ‘fatbergs’.
- Wet wipes are estimated to cause around 300,000 blockages every year, at a cost of £100 million to the country. 48% of the public have flushed wet wipes down the toilet.
- An estimated 180 million cotton buds are flushed down our toilets each year.
All of the above, and much more, contributes to 11 million tonnes of plastic being dumped in the ocean every year.
As the country’s leading provider of rural affordable housing, we are sharing small ways our residents can improve their drainage habits throughout October, making an important contribution to combating environmental pollution and avoiding costly damage to your drains and sewers.
The concept behind Unblocktober is simple. For at least one month in October, we are asking you to avoid putting any of the below down your sink or toilet:
- Cooking oil (pre- or post-cooking)
- Margarine, butter or lard
- Cooking sauces
- Food (even crumbs)
- Anything containing plastic, including:
- Sanitary/period products
- Face masks and rubber gloves
- Wet wipes and nappies
- Condoms
- Cotton buds, razor blades, dental floss, bandages and plasters and contact lenses.
Please join us this October in collaborating to improve the health of our drains and sewers.
And if you do get a blockage, remember to check out our handy guide on how to deal with blockages.
