‘Flush and forget’ culture causes stink

A frying pan, toys, balls, false teeth, money and jewellery headline the list of unusual items flushed down Manawatu toilets.

An increase in hazardous waste discarded through Manawatu District Council’s wastewater systems is causing blockages, says utilities asset manager Joanna Saywell.

The main culprits are rags, pads and tampons. Other items commonly found include glass, rocks, seafood shells, socks, plastic, nappies, kitty litter and food scraps.

The Feilding Wastewater Treatment Plant discards more than one skip bin of hazardous waste every week to the Bonny Glen landfill, near Marton.

Saywell urged residents to discard hazardous waste with their other rubbish, as flushing it down the loo came at twice the cost to the council.

‘‘We shouldn’t be using the toilet as a cheap way of getting rid of rubbish because at the end of the day it costs the ratepayer more at the other end.’’

Reticulation supervisor Dan Yakas said regions such as Himatangi Beach were serviced by a low pressure sewerage system that required pumps to move sewage to the treatment plant, instead of using gravity.

Discarding general waste damages these pumping systems.

‘‘Wet wipes, believe it or not, have a huge effect on the wastewater network,’’ Yakas said.

‘‘They do not break down and block up the pipes, causing quite a mess for the team to clean up. These things can result in a blockage of the discharge pipeline, damage to the grinder pump unit, danger to our works and environmental pollution.

‘‘Moral of the story is if you didn’t do it, don’t flush it.’’

Wastewater treatment plant operator Tama Whatuira said there was a ‘‘flush and forget’’ culture among residents.

The treatment plant installed a new screening machine earlier this year.