Campaign urges Louth people to ‘Think Before You Flush’

A joint initiative aimed at protecting Louth’s coastlines and marine environments is continuing to make waves, as Louth County Council teams up with the Think Before You Flush campaign and the Blue Flag programme to promote responsible waste disposal at beaches and marinas.

Starting in 2023 the collaboration extended through 2024 and into 2025, with the ongoing goal of maintaining the cleanliness and tidiness of Ireland's Blue Flag beaches and marinas, as well as protecting its remarkable marine ecosystems from sewage-related contamination.

The "Think Before You Flush" campaign, operated by Clean Coasts in partnership with Uisce Éireann, emphasises the importance of appropriate flushing behaviour and disposal of items including wipes and other sanitary products, even if they are labelled as flushable.

When items such as wipes and sanitary products are flushed down the toilet, they can cause serious blockages in wastewater systems, leading to sewage overflows which can pollute our rivers, lakes, beaches and coastlines.

To protect Ireland's vital coastal ecosystems, Louth County Council are working to promote the Think Before You Flush campaign and responsible waste disposal. This collaborative initiative will see participating authorities displaying Think Before You Flush signs at Blue Flag beaches and marinas. The signage will explain appropriate flushing behaviour, identify the 3 P’s and encourage the use of sanitary bins in toilets.

Talking about the importance of safeguarding our Blue Flag beaches and marinas Bronagh Moore, Coastal Communities Manager at Clean Coasts had this to say: "Protecting our beaches and marinas is a shared responsibility and it's fantastic to see such strong collaboration between councils, environmental partners and the wider community. Together we must continue to focus on protecting our coastlines and preserve these vital ecosystems now and into the future."

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Mary Hussey, Wastewater Regional Operations Senior Manager at Uisce Éireann, said: “We are delighted to continue our partnership with Clean Coasts and their ongoing collaboration with Louth County Council. The Think Before You Flush campaign shines a light on the link between what you flush down the toilet and how it can end up on your local beach. The success of this campaign hinges on the participation and support of the public, beachgoers, residents and tourists alike. The hard work and positivity of everyone involved is inspiring to see.”

Learn more about the Think Before You Flush campaign at https://thinkbeforeyouflush.org/