It is only one month to go until Unblocktober – the sixth year of the world’s first national campaign and awareness month to improve the health of our drains, sewers, watercourses and seas.
Beginning in October, the campaign is driven by the British public and aims to continue to improve the health of our drains and reduce the environmental impact of our waste water. Launched by drainage experts Lanes Group in 2019, the annual campaign calls on both individuals and businesses to take the Unblocktober pledge.
You can sign up to the pledge here.
This means promising to keep potentially harmful waste materials out of your drains for the whole month.
This includes any of the following products:
- Cooking oil – pre or post-cooking
- Margarine
- Butter
- Lard
- Cooking sauces and condiments
- Food – even crumbs
- Wet wipes
- Face masks
- Period products
- Nappies
- Condoms
- Cotton buds
- Contact lenses
- Bandages and plasters
- Razor blades
- Dental floss
- Rubber gloves
Jacob Larkin, spokesperson for Unblocktober, said: “It is one month until Unblocktober 2024 starts and this means we need to get ready to make a huge effort to improve our drainage habits! With some huge plans for 2024, we are excited to be continuing to work together with the British public to help to save our sewers and seas.
We have poured harmful substances down our drains for too long which has led to the formation of huge fatbergs which can clog our sewers, making them less efficient than they should be and costing huge sums of money to remove. Inefficiencies in our sewer system can cause huge environmental damage and have significant ecological effects, increasing pollution in our waterways.
“We must continue to reduce the environmental impact of our drainage use and improve the overall health of our waterways.”
For more information on the campaign and how to get involved, visit: https://www.unblocktober.org/
ENDS
Editors notes:
PR Contacts:
Sam Brunt
Telephone: 0161 402 3170
Email: sam.brunt@i-com.net
About Unblocktober
Unblocktober is the world’s first month-long national campaign and awareness month to improve the health of our drains, sewers, watercourses and seas – driven completely by the British public.
For the month of October, participants are challenged to avoid putting any of the following down their sinks or toilets:
- Cooking oil – pre or post-cooking
- Margarine
- Butter
- Lard
- Cooking sauces and condiments
- Food – even crumbs
- Wet wipes
- Face masks
- Tampons, applicators and wrappers
- Sanitary/menstrual pads and towels
- Nappies
- Condoms
- Cotton buds
- Contact lenses
- Bandages and plasters
- Razor blades
- Dental floss
- Rubber gloves
To find out how to become part of the community taking action to protect the UK waterways and sewage networks this October, go to www.unblocktober.org and sign up for your pack today.
Website: www.unblocktober.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/unblocktober/
Instagram: www.instagram.com/unblocktober/
Unblocktober’s supporters include:
- Environment Agency
- Water UK
- Love Water
- Thames Water
- Severn Trent
- Anglian Water
- Southern Water
- Yorkshire Water
- British Water
- United Utilities
- Northumbrian Water
- Fab Little Bag
- The Rivers Trust
- Water Research Centre
- Future Water Association
- Cheshire Wildlife Trust
- Hvitved Larsen
- United Kingdom Society of Trenchless Technology (UKSTT)
- Marine Conservation Society
- Ofwat
- Surfers Against Sewage
- Northumbrian Water
- The Flood Hub
- Grease Contractors Association
- Business Stream
- Spiroflow
- Water Jetting Association
- The Final Straw
- Veganuary
- Love My Beach
About Lanes Group
Lanes Group plc is a national wastewater and drainage solutions provider. It sits at the heart of the drainage industry in the UK and Ireland, and is serious about delivering excellence in service, safety and innovation.
The company has a network of 32 depots and strategic utility hubs, providing high-quality utility, drainage and maintenance services for commercial, public sector and domestic customers.
Specialist market sectors include water utilities, construction, energy, rail, highways, insurance and commercial maintenance.