The Scottish Environment Protection Agency and West of Scotland Water Authority have joined forces to ask for public help to eradicate unsightly sewage plastics, like sanitary towels, tampons and condoms from local rivers and beaches.

"We have received a number of complaints in recent weeks from members of the public concerned about the recent apparent increase in this type of material polluting our local rivers," said John Beveridge, SEPA West Region Director. "This has largely been due to wet weather conditions forcing storm overflows to activate for many sewage outfalls.

"Despite this, we cannot continue to use the weather as an excuse for the state of our local environment. As long as we flush everything from panty liners to cotton buds down our toilets, we have no-one to blame but ourselves. Flush it and it will reappear - bin it instead."

A recent study, led by Professor Richard Ashley of the University of Abertay Dundee (see notes), "Domestic Sanitary Waste Disposal: Sustainability of Alternative Strategies", reinforces the need for public co-operation.

The project found that some 2.5 million tampons, 1.4 million sanitary towels and 700,000 panty liners are flushed in the UK every day. Even if around half of these were disposed of through normal refuse routes, water authorities would be able to pass on considerable financial savings to their customers. In addition, there would be an obvious drop in sanitary waste materials finding their way into watercourses and onto beaches, greatly improving our environment.

Cotton buds are also a problem, passing through even the most modern of screening systems.

The three Scottish water Authorities are funding partners in the national Think Before You Flush campaign.

Jarvis McFadzean, Customer and Environmental Services Director with West of Scotland Water said: "The campaign reinforces the message to the public that a simple precaution, such as binning sanitary waste items rather than flushing them, can have a significantly beneficial impact on the environment."

NOTES

· Domestic Sanitary Waste Diposal: Sustainability of Alternative Strategies
RM Ashley, J Dunkerley, S Hendry, DL Blackwood, J Moir University of Abertay Dundee
J Davies Coventry University
A Cook Westminster University
D Butler Imperial College of Science, Technology & Medicine

· In addition to the water authorities, Tayside Health Board, Dundee City Council, North Ayrshire Council, and Fife Council are also participants in the Think Before You Flush campaign.