| Stop and think – not down the sink South West Water removes over 3,000 tonnes of fat from the region's sewers every year – the equivalent volume of 21 double-decker buses. This causes up to 6,000 blockages, which contribute to an annual sewer cleansing bill of over £1.5million.
To tackle this problem, South West Water has launched a pilot scheme to advise businesses on how to dispose of Fat, Oil, Grease (FOG) and other food waste without damaging the environment. Working with Environmental Health Officers, South West Water is visiting businesses that deal with food and food preparation to share best practice measures that will manage kitchen waste AND protect the environment. These guidelines will also help reduce the risk of blockages on private drainage as well as on neighbours' pipework. Those businesses that fully comply with the best practice guidelines may then be eligible for our Good Neighbour Award. For more information call 0800 169 11 44 or download Best Management Practice For Catering Outlets (see right). But it's not just businesses that can help put our sewers on a diet, everyone can contribute. The best way to cut down the amount of fat and food waste going down your sink is to dry wipe your crockery before the washing up. This will protect not only the public sewers but your private pipework as well. Any left over cooking fat should be emptied into a container such as a fat trap. Once it has solidified it can be combined with nuts and seeds and put out for the birds or as a last resort put in the bin. Don't flush and forget it Inappropriate waste also enters sewers via the toilet, when people flush away items such as sanitary products and cotton buds, which can cause blockages in the sewers and lead to sewer flooding and pollution. Here is a list of the 'Dirty Dozen' that are routinely disposed of down the toilet and clog up sewers, pumping stations and sewage treatment works across the South West. | The Dirty Dozen |
|---|
| Sanitary towels, panty liners and backing strips | | Tampons and tampon applicators | | Condoms and femidoms | | Disposable nappies | | Facial cleansing, baby and cleaning wipes | | Bandages and plasters | | Razor blades | | Cotton buds | | Syringes and needles | | Incontinence pads | | Plastic bags and wrappers | | Disposable toilet brushes |
Remember: If you cannot recycle it - bag it and bin it, don't flush it.
Did you know?
If you dispose of FOG or other waste down your drains you could be faced with expensive plumbing bills to unblock them. You could be prosecuted under Section 111 of the Water Industry Act for illegally discharging any waste into a public sewer that is likely to damage the sewer, interfere with the free flow of its contents or affect the treatment and disposal of its contents. | 
