By Ellis Ranger

There’s now a dedicated month in the year for fixing sewers and seas. And this is only the third time that this event has been marked. Forget October, this month is Unblocktober and it has a very important part to play in waste disposal.

Unblocktober is a month long campaign and awareness month birthed in 2019 with the idea of encouraging people to improve the health of their drains, sewers and seas. Initially starting with around 4,500 people on their induction, last year saw over 14,000 people take part and this year they’re aiming for even more.

What is Unblocktober?

The effort was founded in order try and reverse the years of damage we have caused as a country by pouring dangerous liquids and disposing of items through our waterways. Items such as cotton buds, wet wipes and other toiletries mixed with kitchen waste such as fat and oil create mounds of impassable waste that clog waterways and cause all kinds of issues. These mounds are known as fatbergs.

During the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, the issue only got worse as people were locked inside and recycling was put to the back of everyone’s mind. Furthermore, PPE such as masks and gloves began adding to the mix of the ever present fatbergs.

The numbers don’t lie 

The Unblocktober website brings to light some incredibly worrying statistics in regards to this issue with 77% of the population knowing what a fatberg is. And yet 48% are willing to continue to feed the issue by emitting these substances into their local waterways and sewers.

The issues these sealants cause doesn’t just stop with the local communities however. As nasty as it is to be a victim of foul waste flooding, humans are not the only ones who suffer. It is a very well known fact that a lot of plastic is led into our oceans, feeding the pollution problem and ultimately harming thousands of species that call the ocean their home.

We have seen the banning of cotton buds and plastic straws from the UK however the damage has already been done. It is estimated that 8 million tonnes of plastic bottles alone make their way into our oceans and that by 2050 there will be more plastic than fish in the sea.

What you can do to help

With that incredible fact at the forefront of your mind, you are probably wondering how you can take part in Unblocktober, and play your part in the restoration of our oceans, and the healthiness of our sewerage system. The answer is easy: for the whole month, avoid placing any food waste down your drain as well as and thinking about where and how you dispose of your rubbish.

And if you have waste that needs collecting from your house, garden or business, call on CBS Waste. We are committed to recycling a minimum of 80 per cent of the waste we collect and dispose of it responsibly and legally. 

Contact us on 01480 220434, email info@cbs-waste.org or send us a message through our website.