Fatbergs of waste are costing ratepayers in the Tweed Shire, with council staff saying crews remove around 156 tonnes of rubbish and gunk from the wastewater network every year.
Tweed Shire Council Business and Assets Water and Wastewater Acting Manager Elizabeth Seidl says around three tonnes of ‘rubbish and gunk’ need removing every week from the sewerage network
‘This is material that shouldn’t be in our sewers at all,’ Ms Seidl said in a council media release reminding resident to only flush ‘the three Ps’ down toilets.
The three Ps stand for ‘pee, poo,’ and toilet paper.
Last week the council said it was expanding a local waste management rebates scheme for reusable nappies by making reusable menstruation items eligible.
Tweed Shire residents were told they could provide receipts for purchase of period underwear and menstruation cups to council staff for rebate eligibility.
Kitchen waste has also been highlighted as a contributor to fatbergs, with staff reminding residents and visitors to avoid tipping fats, oils or grease down the sink.
‘It’s also important to remember food scraps go in your green lid bin, where they can be composted, and medicines or household chemicals should never be poured into drains,’ Ms Seidl said.
Council staff have published two lists, one of items to stop flushing down toilets, the other of items to stop pouring down sinks.
Staff say don’t flush:
- wipes of any kind (including those labelled ‘flushable’);
- tissues or paper towels;
- cotton buds or dental floss;
- nappies, condoms, tampons or pads; or
- rubbish.
Items NOT to pour down the sink are:
- oil;
- grease;
- chemicals; and
- medicines.
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