Disposable Wipes - Keeping them out of the Toilet

Hi Carol,

There are plenty of examples from the UK, where the issue is a significant one, due to both drain blockages and intermittent pollution.

Here are a couple of national initiatives:

www.water.org.uk/home/resources-and-links/bagandbin

www.sas.org.uk/campaign/think-before-you-flush/

And secondly a couple of slightly more innovative approaches that we highlighted on our water-saving blog:

http://pluginmidlands.wordpress.com/2011/11/27/keep-it-clear/

http://pluginmidlands.wordpress.com/2011/11/01/the-slimy-suspects/

Finally, Anglian Water have taken it a step further by linking the bin it and bag it campaign to clean-up campaigns. www.anglianwater.co.uk/environment/how-you-can-help/keeping-rivers-and-beaches-clean.aspx

I hope this information is useful.

Tom

Tom Veitch
Community Programme Manager
Global Action Plan
United Kingdom

Hi Tom,

Thanks for the links - I will look into those programs. It's a significant issue here as well - lots of North American cities are grappling with it for the reasons that you mention. It's also costing us extra $ to maintain infrastructure because of extra wear and tear on the pumping equipment. Though we have thankfully yet to reach London's "Fatberg" level...

Carol Nicolls
Communications Specialist
Metro Vancouver
Canada

Hi Carol,

We are working on a project to reduce phosphate loadings into Llyn Padarn in North Wales, UK. Included in the behaviours we are encouraging is Dr Cymru Welsh Water's Stop the block campaign. For more info go to http://www.dwrcymru.com/en/My-Wastewater/Lets-Stop-the-Block.aspx

Our project is called Loving our Lake, for more info go to Facebook/llynpadarn or www.loving-our-lake.org



Emma Edwards-Jones
Green Snowdonia Project Manager
Snowdonia-Active
Wales

Hi Emma,

Thanks for the info. I am interested to see that you are going beyond advertising/information brochures, which is what we are hoping to do here as well.

Carol Nicolls
Communications Specialist
Metro Vancouver
Canada

Hello All,

Our partner agencies in NJ and in Bothell WA have created a toilet that can go to special events and allow children with parents to flush the wipes and other products over and over and over. They see it spilling out into a plastic bin. For some photos and plans of both toilets contact. We borrow the Bothell toilet for our events at the Market and other fun times when people get out to see what Gov. is doing. It has a fun fish tank on the back of the toilet. Very cool.
mailto:RVillee@parsa-nj.org
mailto:Dan.Peddy@ci.bothell.wa.us

Bobbi Wallace
Wastewater and Surface Water Manager
Public Works Department
United States