Drainage and wastewater knowledgeable Lanes Group writes
We’re so happy with the success of Unblocktober 2022, and the efforts that folks made to vary their habits and assist the surroundings. We had 38,784 individuals inside companies who made the Unblocktober pledge throughout 289 organisations, in addition to 4,601 people signing up.
We had a number of firsts, together with the primary Unblocktober Awards, which noticed winners throughout three classes. Environmental Compliance and Providers (ECAS) develop into the primary ever winner of the Enterprise Champion of the Yr Award. ECAS received the award for its work in spreading the message about how adjustments in drainage habits and waste disposal might help to guard the sewers and waterways from blockages and air pollution.
Our first Particular person Champion of the Yr award went to Nuno Santos Silva, a Loughborough College postgraduate pupil who has carried out his remaining dissertation grasp’s thesis on the prevention of fatberg outbreaks.
The third award for the Newcomer of the Yr Award was introduced to first-time Unblocktober individuals who’ve actually proven their dedication to the trigger. On this class the winner was Kevin McCabe, whose new invention Fogfilter helps to maintain our drains clear and water clear.
We additionally had our first in-person occasion with the Unblocktober Manchester Canal Clear Up. To have the ability to make a tangible distinction – alongside a number of of our companions from Intelligent Closet and I-COM, in addition to members of the general public – was good to see. However what does this imply trying into 2023?
Drain well being continues to be vital
One factor that Unblocktober has taught us trying into 2023 is how vital drain well being stays, not simply on a person degree but in addition on a wider environmental degree. Particularly within the early months of the yr, the chilly climate can imply that drains affected by unhealthy habits can burst and trigger costly harm that must be repaired. On a wider scale, unhealthy drains can result in enormous points for the surroundings as an entire, from moist wipe islands to microplastics and air pollution.
Atmosphere is turning into an ever bigger subject
Unblocktober 2022 was extremely targeted on the surroundings and mirrored the rising have to fight the damaging results that poor drain well being is having on the surroundings, with enormous fatbergs blocking drains and sewers all around the nation. This causes them to work much less successfully than they need to, which has enormous ecological impacts and is inflicting elevated air pollution in our waterways at a time once we merely can not afford to be creating any extra environmental harm.
The British public are fearful however have to enact change
In a survey carried out by Unblocktober we discovered that 97% of the British public say they’re at the very least barely fearful in regards to the environmental harm brought on by placing the unsuitable objects down the bathroom and drain. Regardless of this fear, 65% of the respondents admitted to pouring fats and oil down the sink. This highlights the necessity to to shut the hole between the popularity of an issue and really altering behaviours to cease the harm brought on by poor drain habits. The work for Unblocktober is due to this fact removed from achieved, and we are going to proceed to assist to make individuals conscious of the right way to utilise their drains in a method that’s form to the surroundings.
If we glance to 2023, the largest takeaway we will see is the significance of motion to assist our surroundings earlier than time runs out.
