We spend up to $27 million each year managing and clearing up to 20,000 network blockages from our wastewater system. Putting the wrong things down the sink, like fats, oils, milk and even food scraps, can create serious blockages for your home's pipes.
Our sinks are finally speaking out! After years of misuse, they've had enough. Now, meet the singing sink that makes you stop and think: only water, detergent and soap down the sink.
What makes you a sink clogger?
Many people aren't aware that common household products are harmful and shouldn't be put down the sink. These waste materials clump together and can block your drains, clog pipes, form fatbergs, and put a major strain on our ability to effectively treat Sydney's wastewater.
Let's discover how we can save our sinks.
Fats, oils, grease
It may be easy to wash that grease off your pan and pour your leftover oil from your air fryer or when you deep-frying hot chips down the sink. However, these FOGs will solidify in your pipes and can eventually cause major blockages.
Instead, here's how to dispose of fats, oils and grease correctly:
- Wipe your grease with a paper towel before washing your dishes and dispose in a bin.
- Pour any fats or oils into a container, and once full throw it in the bin.
Remember: only water, detergent and soap down the sink!
Food scraps
We're all guilty of scraping those last bits of food down the drain. Not only could those food scraps cause nasty smells and attract unwanted pests, but they can stick to pipes, cause blockages and contribute to fatbergs.
Here's how to dispose of food scraps correctly:
- Before washing your dishes, scrape all food scraps into the bin.
- Use a sink strainer when you rinse your dishes.
- Empty your sink strainer and put the leftover food scraps into the bin.
Remember: only water, detergent and soap down the sink!
Paint and chemicals
Whether you're an aspiring artist, painting with your kids or a professional, when you're done for the day, it doesn't belong down the sink or drain.
Paint is made up of materials that can harden inside your plumbing, leading to blockages that are difficult and expensive to fix. That's not all. The chemicals, toxins and pigments in paint can pollute our rivers, lakes and oceans if washed down the drain.
Here's how to dispose of paint correctly:
- For smaller projects, wipe any paint off your palette and brushes with a paper towel and throw it in the bin before rinsing them.
- Seal your paint containers tightly, and take them to your closest council disposal centre or household Chemical CleanOut event. Find your closest one.
Remember: only water, detergent and soap down the sink!
Coffee grounds
Most people love to start their day with a cup of coffee, but our sinks sure don't love it when we dump our coffee grounds down the sink. Coffee grounds are dense and clump together when wet. They don't dissolve in water and can quickly build up in pipes.
Always put coffee grounds in your bin or compost. Enjoy your cup of coffee while looking after your sink.
Remember: only water, detergent and soap down the sink!
Milk
No one wants to deal with spoilt milk, but it doesn't belong in the sink. When milk hits your wastewater pipes it curdles, or hardens, and clumps together. These clumps can stick to the walls of the pipes, which reduces the flow capacity
Here's how to dispose of milk correctly:
- Mix old milk with water, give it a shake, and pour it on your plants – they'll love it!
- Put it in the bin.
Remember: only water, detergent and soap down the sink!
What happens when you don't think and put the wrong things down the sink?
Anything other than water, detergent and soap are not safe to put down your sink. Other items are made up of materials that don't break down in water. This can cause major blockages in your pipes and you could be looking at an expensive plumbing bill.
Furthermore, these materials can combine to form a hard blockage known as a fatberg.
These blockages can cause overflows, which can be a health and environmental nightmare, with wastewater backing up and overflowing into homes, backyards and local waterways.
While the actions you take in your own household might seem small, you're one of more than 5 million people contributing to Greater Sydney's wastewater every day. Every choice counts.
Remember: only water, detergent and soap down the sink!
Are you a trade customer or business owner?
Visit trade wastewater to see how you can play a part in saving our sinks.