{"id":570290,"date":"2026-03-28T16:18:11","date_gmt":"2026-03-28T16:18:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/570290\/"},"modified":"2026-03-28T16:18:11","modified_gmt":"2026-03-28T16:18:11","slug":"councils-plea-to-aussies-as-crews-remove-foul-three-tonne-haul-from-sewers-every-week","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/570290\/","title":{"rendered":"Council’s plea to Aussies as crews remove foul, three-tonne haul from sewers every week"},"content":{"rendered":"

An Aussie council is urging residents to do the right thing in the bathroom, after revealing the enormous amount of “sewer gunk”<\/a> they have to remove from the region’s sewerage system every single week.<\/p>\n

Tweed Shire Council<\/a>, which represents 94,000 residents in the north-eastern end of NSW, said crews are pulling out three tonnes worth of rubbish, baby wipes, sanitary pads, hair and even condoms each week \u2014 amounting to a staggering 156 tonnes of waste every year.<\/p>\n

Acting Manager of Water and Wastewater, Elizabeth Seidl, reminded residents only to flush the 3Ps \u2013 pee, poo and toilet paper.<\/p>\n

“We\u2019re removing roughly three tonnes of rubbish and gunk every single week from the sewerage network,” Ms Seidl said, adding that any other substance flushed down the toilet will not break down in water.<\/p>\n

“This can clog your home\u2019s plumbing and turn into a sticky mess in the Tweed\u2019s sewerage systems, which can lead to sewage overflows and sometimes end up costing the whole community in repairs.”<\/p>\n

Baby wipes and toilet wipes \u2014 even ones that are marked as ‘flushable’ \u2014 are the biggest offenders, with blockages costing NSW $27 million each year<\/a>.<\/p>\n

And it’s not just what goes down the toilet that is causing the problem.<\/p>\n

Unsuitable liquids tipped into kitchen and laundry sinks are building up ‘fatbergs’ inside drains<\/a>. The severe blockages are made when oils and fats are poured down drains and mix with other non-flushables.<\/p>\n

\u201cOil, grease and fats belong in the bin; not down the sink,\u201d Ms Seidl said.<\/p>\n

She noted that fatbergs have also led to pump failures at local wastewater treatment plants.<\/p>\n

Medicines and household chemicals should also never be disposed of down the drain.<\/p>\n

Common signs of a blockage include sinks, baths or toilets emptying slowly, toilets not flushing or overflowing, gurgling noises from drains or toilets, and wastewater overflowing near outdoor taps.<\/p>\n

\"Wipes<\/p>\n

Wipes and other non\u2011flushables don\u2019t break down and can end up clogging the sewerage systems. Source: Tweed Shire Council<\/p>\n

Never flush these items down the toilet:<\/p>\n

wipes of any kind (including those labelled \u201cflushable\u201d)<\/p>\n

cotton buds or dental floss<\/p>\n

nappies, condoms, tampons or pads<\/p>\n

Never tip these liquids down the sink:<\/p>\n

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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