Unmasking the Wipey Party: How to Keep Oceans Clean and Wipe-Free!

Hey there, you funky folks with a yearning for cleanliness! Ever seen those gnarly fatbergs clogging up sewers? You know, those grotesque amalgamations of wet wipes, grease, and all kinds of goo? Yeah, those slimy beasts have been popping up everywhere, from the Airport to the rolling hills of Europa Point. But fear not, because it's time for a little teamwork from the government, industry peeps, and all you savvy shoppers to save our drains and oceans from this wipey mess!

Picture this: fatbergs, those not-so-sexy sewer mountains, are basically the outcome of a wild party between wet wipes, grease, and other unmentionables. They've turned our wastewater systems into a chaotic mess, and these sneaky wipes even find their way into our deep blue sea. It's like a not-so-fun PLASTIC party that sea critters, including our beloved “Lisas” didn't RSVP for.

Hold on tight, because the juicy scoop is that those innocent-looking wet wipes caused about 90% of the sewer blockage troubles that Wastage Products Ltd had to deal with last year. Yikes, talk about a cleanliness conspiracy gone astray! How can wipes that clean our bum so well become such a menace?!

Now, cue the Friends of the Earth and their research crew, who pulled off some detective work worthy of a prime-time drama. They uncovered the dirty secrets behind our daily habits that sneakily pump plastic into the ocean. And guess what? Wet wipes are part of the party crashers too! Yes, even those seemingly harmless, adorable squares of moist tissue have a secret: they're made of plastic. Surprise!

In fact, we've got a trio of tales to tell about the wet wipe whirlwind.

Story numero uno: The Fatberg Fiasco! Remember those icky sewer boulders? Yep, they're chock-full of wet wipes. These things are like the party guests who don't know when to leave – even when they're labeled as "flushable." Check out this nice juicy one we scooped out of Rosia Road.

These go around all the pumping stations in Gibraltar and ruin the pumps that have to move your poop, ultimately costing Aquagib a hefty piece, and therefore YOU, the Gibraltarian, as the ultimate financier!

Tale number two: The Plastic Seabed Extravaganza! Wet wipes flushed down toilets in Gibraltar form a nice mattress, or un corchon, like my friend Clive calls it, at the exit of our sewer at Europa Point. Seriously, it's like these wipes carved out their own little paradise water slide, all hugged together sliding out to the Med. But, oh boy, these party crashers are causing chaos even before they hit the ocean's dance floor.

Last but not least, wet wipe tale number three: The Not-So-Flushable Flush! No nos vamos engaña guys. Even if they say flushable you know you shouldn’t flush them! Everyone’s been saying it for years. The flushables sometimes don’t have plastics, but they still clog up the systems. No son como el tissue paper que avece se te rompe solo.

So, where do these wet wipes go from here? Well, despite the drama, a ban isn't exactly looming over our wet wipe saga yet. But don't fret! The story's not over yet. Friends of the Earth decided to peel back the wet wipe curtain and take a deep dive into their secret lives. What are they made of? How much plastic are they sneaking in? Are all wet wipes equally guilty? What's the alternative (how did folks survive without them)? And is government's intervention necessary?

In a world where wet wipes rule, there's a whole secret society of nonwovens and wipes that throw a massive party called WOW – the World of Wipes (WOW 2024 Conference - June 17 - 20, 2024 - Minneapolis, MN (worldofwipes.org)). It's like the Met Gala for wet wipes! But wait, are wet wipes a necessity or just a convenient fad? Turns out, they're a major player in the nonwoven game, with figures showing that hygiene and personal care wipes own about 44% of the nonwoven stage. Surgical and medical wipes? Just a mere 3%. But, hey, modern life would be "impossible" without them, right? Just throw them in the bin.

So, there you have it, fearless warriors against the wet wipe uprising. Let's join forces and make those wipes take a hike – into the trash, that is. Just remember, while the wipey party might be fun, it's time to clean up and make sure our oceans stay groovy and plastic-free! 🌊🌈🧼

#Dontflushthemtrashthem

#nowipesinpipes

#nomorewipes