Thames Water’s “bin it – don’t block it” awareness campaign has seen fatberg blockages reduced by 26 per cent across east London.
The water firm currently spends around £12 million each year removing blockages with the London boroughs of Newham, Epping Forest, and Barking and Dagenham being particular hotspots for fatbergs.
Matt Rimmer, head of wastewater networks at Thames Water, said “eight times every hour one of our customers suffers a blockage caused by items being flushed away or put down the drain which shouldn’t be, so it’s vital we get people to change their ways”.
The “bin it – don’t block it” campaign featured leaflets, posters and poems circulated in problem areas and published in local papers.
It was supported by advertisements on social media and Thames Water’s dedicated “bin it” website, which contains advice on disposing of fat and highlighting how household waste can cause blockages.
Free Fat traps for storing used cooking fat and oil were also distributed to 51,000 homes.
As a result of the campaign, almost 70 per cent of people in parts of the target areas are said to have changed their behaviour when it comes to disposing of household waste.
“A big thank you to everyone who has taken our advice on board which is clearly making a difference,” said Rimmer.