Start your journey to a better planet
11,000,000
11,000,000 pieces of plastic are dumped in the ocean.
48%
48% of the British public have flushed wet wipes
£1M
£1M of Gibraltar’s taxpayers’ money is spent on unblocking and repairing sewage systems
93%
93% of blockages are caused by wet wipes
The time to act is now:
make a small change to have a big impact on our future
Our environment is changing for the worse, so now is the time to act! Unblocktober will help you make small changes to your habits and the way you dispose of certain everyday items, to make a big difference to the environment – as the impacts are being felt right here, right now.
Do you want to help reduce the amount of plastic entering our seas and rivers?
Do you want to help fight environmentally-damaging fatbergs?
What is Gibraltar’s anti-wipe campaign?
Gibraltar’s anti-wipe campaign is a newly founded project by wastage Products Ltd and Eco Waters which aims at tackling the wet-wipe issue within Gibraltar. It is a nationwide campaign that has brought numerous companies and individuals together to tackle the issue as a team. The aim is to improve the health of our sewers, drains, seas, and environment as a whole.
Launching September 2023, the community and companies of Gibraltar will be joining forces to tackle this epidemic. We aim to reduce the damages caused to our infrastructure as well as the disruption to our roads. Together we can be the change!
Our reason for Gibraltar’s anti-wipe campaign
We all know that as a society, we haven’t always treated the natural and built environment in the kindest way. There are many examples of this that will jump to mind, including deforestation, increasing carbon emissions, and so on.
But for many decades, we’ve also adopted habits at home that – without many of us knowing – have caused our surroundings, watercourses and rivers severe distress. Millions upon millions of us have been putting dangerous liquids and items into our drainage systems and sewers that lead to untold damage to the environment around us.
As a result, we need to act decisively and quickly to try to change those bad habits and reverse the impact of our actions on our environment. The effects of this ecological damage are already being felt, and will need a concerted effort to slow them down or reverse them.
As a community, we spend around £1M on a yearly basis to maintain and repair our sewage systems. We aim to reduce that number drastically, which will allow us to use this money to invest and improve our nation. This campaign will be driven forward by you, the Gibraltarian public!
When sewers and drains get bloked, it can cause any or all of the following problems:
Foul waste looding
Pollution
Excavation and repair, causing roadworks
Improper waste disposal can also lead to plastic pollution, which is another global crisis that we need to fight.
Disposable face masks, nappies, period care products, cotton buds and many of the other items we list below are non-biodegradable because they contain hidden plastics.
Putting them in our drains increases the chances of plastic making its way into our rivers and seas – into which approximately 8 million pieces of plastic find their way every day.
The good news: even a small change in your habits can make a big difference…
How to get involved
All we want is for you, your family and your friends to commit to stop pouring or flushing the following items down your drains or into the toilet. By taking part in the Anti-wipe campaign, you will be making a big difference, without having to make a big effort.
Wet Wipes
Tampons
Menstrual Pads
Condoms
Cotton Buds
Nappies
Bandages
Razor Blades
Dental Floss
Contact Lenses
Disposables Gloves
Facemask
