Unblocktober: How to get involved

During Unblocktober, Watertrain is encouraging households to get involved in changing kitchen and bathroom habits to protect our sewers and seas.

This October marks the sixth annual Unblocktober, which is the world’s first national awareness month aiming to improve the health of drains, sewers, watercourses and seas – driven completely by the British public.

Why is Unblocktober important?

What we dispose down our drains can significantly damage sewerage networks through fatbergs, as well as contribute to plastic pollution in seas. The latest figures show that an alarming 11 million tonnes of plastic waste end up in the ocean every year.

By making small changes to our habits, we can all make a big difference.

How can households get involved?

To get involved in Unblocktober, households can change their kitchen habits by avoiding pouring the below items down drains:

• Cooking oil
• Food – even crumbs!
• Butter
• Margarine
• Lard
• Cooking sauce

To change bathroom habits, households should avoid flushing anything containing plastic down toilets. These items include:

• Wet wipes
• Period products
• Nappies
• Condoms
• Cotton buds
• Contact lenses
• Bandages and plasters
• Dental floss
• Razor blades
• Facemasks
• Disposable gloves

For more information on Unblocktober, please visit the campaign website:

https://www.unblocktober.org