Severn Trent collects tonnes of wet wipes from sewers weekly

The water company has to clear around 30,000 blockages from the waste network annually, and each week pulls two and a half tonnes of wet wipes from sewers—the weight of a Range Rover.

However, their Be A Binner, Not A Blocker message has proved a success over the last year, including during the summer Olympics in France.

A total of 14 million litres of fats, oils, and greases (FOG) were cleared from sewers.

This prevented unnecessary and potentially costly issues for customers at home.

Severn Trent’s campaign includes a partnership with Gurdwaras across the region, including Birmingham and the Black Country.

The initiative, in conjunction with Environmental Compliance & Services (ECAS), Lifecycle Oils, and community group Gurdwara Aid, sees fat traps installed at Sikh places of worship.

These traps collect FOG before it goes down sinks or drains.

Grant Mitchell, sewer blockage lead at Severn Trent, said: "With the help of our Be A Binner, Not A Blocker message we have collected some 14 million litres of fats, oils, and greases (FOG) that may otherwise have been poured into our sewers.

"That is close to six Olympic-sized swimming pools of FOG—putting us in podium position in terms of this campaign."

He added that blockages like these are a real problem and can lead to flooding if not detected and dealt with.

Mr Mitchell said: "Putting the wrong things down the toilet or drain can have a devastating impact on communities and the environment and we know blockages can be a horrible experience for our customers."

He added that it’s vital that people put fats, oils, and any food in the bin, and to only ever flush the 3 Ps down the toilet too—poo, pee, and paper.

Severn Trent has been running a series of Sewer Stories, showcasing the work that waste teams do to keep sewers clear and some of the unusual things they have found—everything from false teeth and toys to car tyres and even a shed.