Editorial Comment by Peter Davey
Making it personal: Bringing infrastructure awareness to the public
A
t a recent business meeting I was asked whether I had heard of a certain garburator model. It was clear the gentleman was a big fan of using the sink instead of a green bin. He seemed upset when I explained that many of our readers would argue garburators take a toll on sewer systems and wastewater plants. Having failed to reach a consensus on the sink, I was then lectured about the ridiculousness of Canada’s futile obsession with waste diversion. “Here we sort every little thing,” he said, while gesturing to a sheet of aluminum foil lining a breadbasket. “While in the States, it all goes into one bin. What’s the point?” I felt frustrated that I hadn’t been able to convince this skeptic about the merits of campaigns that I wholeheartedly support. Diligently, I fill up my green bin with food waste, scold my friends for pouring bacon grease down the drain and wait for my apartment’s garbage chute to switch from organics to recycling. Yet, how could I have succeeded in convincing this person when millions of dollars spent on public outreach and education already failed to do so? My grandfather and co-founder of ES&E, Tom Davey might have had a shot. His wit and intelligence could outgun anyone looking for an oratory scrap. Instead, tugging at purse strings rather than green heart strings might better sway opinion and behaviour. However, when utilities are buried and the cost of their abuse is amortized over a long period of time, it can be difficult to effect change. The rise of garbage, such as flushable wipes, in sewer systems, has a large and expensive impact on wastewater. It is estimated that the price tag for cleaning garbage out of municipal sewage conveyance and treatment systems is $250 million a year in Canada. Robert Haller, chair of the Canadian Water and Wastewater Association, says that this number is on the low end.
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Because this number isn’t listed on a household’s water bill, or beaches littered with tampons, wipes and condoms, people aren’t aware of the impact. When a “fatberg”, a blockage of oil and grease the size of a double decker bus, was discovered in London, England, in 2013, many wrinkled their nose and shook their head in amazement that such a thing could grow in the sewers. But, I wonder how many people thought about the cost of breaking down and removing that congealed mass? On the other side of the pond in London, Ontario, researchers from Western University teamed up with the City to analyze the cost of fats, oils and grease (FOG) and the efficacy of a pilot project to reduce FOG from residences. (See “London evaluates a novel approach to FOG source diversion” page 12). The “Your Turn” pilot project distributed biodegradable cups to households and encouraged them to pour cooking oils, fats and grease into the cups rather than down the drain. Cup distribution was paired with educational information about the damage FOG can do to sewer systems. Co-author Barry Orr noted that the ability to take a tangible “no-cost” object from an outreach exhibit encouraged people to participate. Results of the pilot project were positive, with 68% of participants responding that they used the cup every time FOG was created in their kitchens. Approximately the same percentage of participants said their awareness of FOG’s impact on sewer systems was improved. Not only is there an immediate improvement to sewers as people stop disposing of FOG down the drain, how people view their sinks and toilets changes too. For participants in the “Your Turn” project, hopefully, the habit of flushing baby wipes and condoms down the toilet, changes with the habit of pouring cooking oil down the sink. It is much more difficult to remove contaminants or debris from a sewage trunk line or water body, than it is to capture it before it enters. A daunting example is the issue of microplastics in the
Great Lakes, where they can be found in shorelines, sediment and even the stomachs of fish and fowl. The equipment necessary to remove tiny fragments of plastics, such as those found in facial scrubs and toothpaste, would be very expensive. However, it wouldn’t be necessary if people didn’t use those products in the first place, or if plastic trash didn’t make it into waterways. The Toronto and Region Conservation Authority did an excellent job educating the public about the proliferation of plastics in water bodies around the world. At a packed public meeting in November, it was clear those in attendance left the event resolute to no longer use plastic-containing cosmetics and be vigilant in keeping garbage out of storm drains and water ways. A light-hearted campaign called “I Don’t Flush” has gathered Canadian actors, politicians and comedians to spread the important message about keeping pharmaceuticals, personal hygiene products, garbage and FOG out of toilets. Created by the Ontario Clean Water Agency and the Clean Water Foundation, it has taken to YouTube and Twitter to educate people. Too often it seems the public becomes aware of problems with services and infrastructure after a break, leak or tax hike. Municipalities and utilities should look at new and innovative ways to inform people about the benefits waste diversion campaigns offer, or the need to keep pharmaceuticals, FOG and garbage out of sinks and toilets. There has been plenty of coverage on the infrastructure deficit and cities’ crumbling infrastructure. There should be more and improved education on how consumers can reduce its wear and tear. Peter Davey is the assistant editor of Environmental Science & Engineering Magazine. Email: peter@esemag.com
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