Lanes Group launches Unblocktober 2022

Drainage experts Lanes Group has announced the launch of this year’s Unblocktober campaign, calling on individuals and businesses to take the Unblocktober pledge to clean our drains and reduce the impact that our waste is having on our climate and ecology in the UK.

Unblocktober is a pioneering month-long annual campaign, launched in 2019, that takes place in October to improve the health of our drains, sewers, watercourses and seas – driven completely by the British public. The campaign encourages individuals and businesses to take the Unblocktober pledge, which means committing to keeping potentially damaging waste products away from their drains for the whole month.

This includes any of the following products:

• Cooking oil – pre or post-cooking
• Margarine
• Butter
• Lard
• Cooking sauces and condiments
• Food – even crumbs
• Wet wipes
• Face masks
• Tampons, applicators and wrappers
• Sanitary/menstrual pads and towels
• Nappies
• Condoms
• Cotton buds
• Contact lenses
• Bandages and plasters
• Razor blades
• Dental floss
• Rubber gloves

We have spent decades consistently pouring dangerous liquids and items into our drains, leading to the creation of fatbergs – enormous masses of congealed fat, oil, grease, wet wipes, period care products, cotton buds, condoms, nappies, bandages and much more.

These huge fatbergs block drains and sewers, causing them to work less effectively than they should. This has led to huge ecological impacts and is causing increased pollution in our waterways at a time when we simply cannot afford to be creating any more environmental damage.

Jacob Larkin, spokesperson for Unblocktober, said:

“With the climate crisis looming, as well as the loss of many of our green spaces, we wanted this year’s Unblocktober to focus on the climatic and ecological costs of poor drain health. Recent headlines showing the quantity of sewage that is being flushed into our oceans and rivers has made the link between our drains and the health of our environment starker than ever before.

“This year, the campaign focus is on how right now is a ‘Time for Action’ to make a true difference on the ecological and climatic impact of poor drain health. Huge fatbergs and buildups of wet wipes in our drainage systems have already hugely negatively affected our green spaces and waterways, and now is the time to make a real difference and utilise our drainage systems in a way that will benefit the environment and stave off the looming environmental problems that are already upon us. As such, we call on the UK to join us on our Unblocktober campaign and make the pledge to change their waste habits.”

For more information on the campaign and how to get involved, visit: https://www.unblocktober.org/