Don't flush wet wipes or other sanitary products
Wet wipes flushed down the toilet contribute to more than 90% of sewer blockages in the UK and are one of the biggest contributors to river pollution.
Wet wipes take years to break down - even some of the brands that are labelled as biodegradable actually might never break down in sewer conditions.
© kana Design Image/ Shutterstock
You will need
to avoid flushing wet wipes and other sanitary products down the toilet
to only flush wet wipes which have a 'fine to flush' logo on the packaging
to use toilet paper or switch to reusable wipes where possible
How this can help
- Wet wipes contain synthetic fibres such as polyester and polyethylene. These don't break down easily and clog up sewers and rivers. They can also harm wildlife when ingested.
- Well-functioning ecosystems need clean flowing waterways.
Waterways free of blockages are also important for helping to prevent floods and landslides.
By preventing blockages, water companies will have less need to release sewage into waterways, which is a practice that has been used in extreme cases. This will limit the chances of algal blooms occurring, which can kill fish and other organisms.
Further reading
Discover the problems wet wipes can cause
