Cork Primary Schools Invited to Enter National Fatberg-Building Competition

Cork primary school pupils are being invited to take part in a nationwide competition marking ten years of the Think Before You Flush campaign, with classes challenged to build their own model "fatberg" ahead of Halloween.

The competition is open to pupils aged 8 to 10. Entries can take the form of a character or whatever design the class imagines, made using clean craft or recycled materials, and creative licence is strongly encouraged. Pupils may enter as a class, and multiple classes from the same school may enter.

Fatbergs are large blockages that form in sewers when inappropriate items are flushed down toilets. They can block sewage pipes, cause dirty water to overflow and harm rivers, the sea and wildlife. Sewage workers have described fatbergs as "monsters from the deep."

The largest fatberg ever found was discovered in a sewer in Whitechapel, London, nearly ten years ago. It measured 250 metres long and was estimated to weigh 130 tonnes, roughly the length of two football pitches and the weight of eleven double decker buses. It took sewage workers over two months to remove.

Cash prizes will be awarded to winning entries, and the winning school will receive a celebratory visit from the Clean Coasts team on World Toilet Day, Thursday 19 November 2026, with games, celebrations and media opportunities for the pupils involved.

Nuala Woods, Uisce Éireann's Head of Wastewater Operations, encouraged schools to take part:

"By learning what should and shouldn't be flushed down the toilet, students can help protect our rivers, beaches and local communities. Items such as wet wipes and cotton buds do not break down in the wastewater system and can and cause [sic] blockages in our network, pumping stations and wastewater treatment plants and can lead to sewage overflows impacting some of our most beautiful coastal and river locations."

She added: "We remove around 10,000 blockages from our network every year, so we need everyone's help to spread the message: Think Before You Flush."

Maria-Assunta Lawton, Clean Coasts Campaign Coordinator, said:

"The Fatberg Competition offers primary school pupils a fun and creative way to learn about a serious environmental issue. By building their own model fatberg, children can see how everyday flushing habits affect our wastewater network, waterways and marine environment. We hope pupils will bring that knowledge home and inspire small changes that can make a real difference to the environment."

The Think Before You Flush campaign is run by Clean Coasts, part of An Taisce, in partnership with Uisce Éireann. It reminds the public that only the "3 Ps," pee, poo and (toilet) paper, should be flushed, with everything else going in the bin.

Full details, including the Schools Information Pack and sign-up, are available at thinkbeforeyouflush.org. Questions can be sent to tbyf@antaisce.org.