Think Sink! campaign aims to keep your pipes clear
South West Water is launching a new campaign encouraging customers to dispose of cooking fat, oil and grease in the kitchen bin.
Every year, tens of thousands of litres of waste fat, cooking oil and grease are poured down sinks by people who don’t realise the problems this could cause.
South West Water’s Head of Community Relations, Alan Hyde, explained: “When hot fat, oil and grease cools it forms a solid mass which can build up inside your pipes.
“At best you might notice that your sink or dishwasher isn’t draining as quickly, but blocked pipes can also cause flooding. This is extremely unpleasant, especially if it happens in your home. It can easily be avoided by disposing of fat, oil and grease in the kitchen bin. Looking after your sink can also save you the cost of calling out a plumber to clear a blockage.”
The Think Sink! campaign encourages everyone to follow four simple steps to avoid blocked drains:
1. Scrape food scraps and fat off your plates into your bin or food waste recycling
2. Use a container to collect cooled fats, oils and grease from roasting trays and frying pans
3. Give plates and pans a quick wipe with kitchen roll to remove any liquid fat or grease before putting in the sink or dishwasher
4. When full, empty or dispose of the container into your kitchen bin
Over the next three months, dedicated advisers will be talking to customers and spreading the Think Sink! message in Newton Abbot and Torquay.
The Think Sink! campaign is supported by the Environment Agency. Richard Stockdale, Area Director for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, said: “Pouring your leftover chip fat down the sink might seem a small deal, but it’s not for our environment. Every year tens of thousands of litres of waste fat, cooking and oil and grease are poured down sinks by people who don’t realise the problems this causes for our environment. Don’t be one of them – let’s work together to support this campaign and Think Sink.”
To find out more, see www.southwestwater.co.uk/thinksink
