Ad campaign launched to target shocking items flushed down Sydney toilets

Sydneysiders have been flushing weird objects down the toilet, with one household item causing $8 million in blockages every year.

Half of Sydneysiders are flushing the wrong items down the toilet, while three in four are putting the wrong things down the sink, Sydney Water estimates.

All sorts of weird and wonderful objects including jewellery, watches and household items have been flushed down household toilets, causing a headache for those tasked with unblocking drains.

Sydney Water crews have had to fix more than 7000 faults in the wastewater network over the past three months, uncovering money, children's’ toys, and once even a brick.

About 75 per cent of all wastewater blockages involve flushable wet wipes, with about 500 tonnes removed from Sydney’s pipes every year at a cost of at least $8 million.

Sydney Water has launched an advertising campaign to remind people that pee, poo and toilet paper are the only types of waste that should be flushed.

The “It’s Best to Bin It” campaign targets what can or can't be flushed down the toilet or tipped into the sink. Picture: Supplied via Sydney Water

Half of Sydneysiders are flushing the wrong items down the toilet, while three in four are putting the wrong things down the sink, Sydney Water estimates.

The “It’s Best to Bin It” campaign targets what can flushed down the toilet or tipped into the sink and what can’t and should be binned instead.

Sydney Water crews have had to fix more than 7000 faults in the wastewater network over the past three months.

“The Unflushables” include wet wipes, cotton buds, tissues, dental floss, hair, cleaning cloths, and sanitary products, while “The Unsinkables” are fats, oils, and grease as well as other kitchen items like coffee grounds and food scraps.

“The reality is wet wipes, fats, oils and grease and other items like cotton buds, tissues and sanitary products are a major threat to our wastewater network,” Sydney Water’s Maryanne Graham said.

“When these products go down the drain, they solidify and harden in the wastewater network, creating blockages in our pipes.

“Customers are urged to safely dispose of these items in a container and put them in the bin.”