Help Us Save Our Environment :

Bathroom Tips

Hygiene items such as nappies, tampons and cotton buds are not treatable and are difficult to remove, particularly those containing plastic.

Never flush nappies, sanitary napkins, tampons, incontinence pads, surgical bandages, cotton buds or condoms down the toilet. Such items commonly cause sewer blockages and can clog up the system at the treatment plants. All of these items should be disposed of in the garbage. You can avoid an expensive blockage by simply putting a bin in your bathroom and toilet.

Pharmaceutical products

Never flush razor blades, syringes or other non-biodegradable pharmaceutical products down the toilet. Always dispose of these products in the bin.

Kitchen and laundry tips (Fats, oils and food scraps)

Avoid putting cooking oil, fats or food scraps down the sink. Fats tend to solidify on cooling, which can lead to fat build-up in the pipes under your home and ultimately cause blockages that are costly to fix. Fat build-ups are a common cause of sewer blockages.

- Instead of pouring fats and oils down the sink, wipe your pots and pans with a paper towel and put the paper towel in the bin. Alternatively, let the oil or fat cool and then spread it evenly over your compost heap.

- Vegetable peelings and other scraps belong in the bin or on the compost. Collect scraps in a container near the sink and dispose of them at the end of the day.

- Buy a sink strainer and save yourself the cost of unblocking your sewer. Empty the strainer into the bin, or add the food scraps to your compost heap.

Before rinsing your fruit and vegetables in the sink, make sure you remove the brand labels and dispose of them in the rubbish bin. These small, sticky labels are non-biodegradable and cannot be treated by the bacteria that breaks down the rest of the waste.

Detergents

The average household uses three times more detergent than manufacturers recommend for washing dishes and clothes. Many detergents contain phosphate, which can be very harmful to the environment.

- Cut down on the amount of detergent you use – you will help reduce any adverse effects detergents may have on the environment and you will save money on your grocery bill.

Choose detergents that are phosphate-free.

Garden and garage tips (Paints, pesticides and other hazardous chemicals)

Hazardous chemicals used for home and garden maintenance, such as paints and pesticides, can corrode your pipes and damage the environment. These chemicals also pose a health threat to maintenance staff working on sewers.

- Try to use water-based paints whenever possible – they are much less harmful to the environment. For water-based paints, initially paint out brushes or rollers on scrap material or rinse them over the garden.

- If you are using oil-based paints, brushes and rollers should initially be cleaned in turpentine and the paint/turps mixture should be allowed to evaporate down to a sludge for disposal in the bin.

- Never pour used motor oil down the sink. Contact your local council or Sustainability Victoria to find out safe ways of disposing of used motor oil.