Third Unblocktober Awards, Celebrating Leaders in Sewer and Environmental Health
The third edition of the Unblocktober Awards recognised individuals and organisations making a lasting impact on protecting the UK’s drains, sewers, and waterways. The awards honour those who championed Unblocktober’s mission beyond the campaign month of October, receiving commemorative trophies and digital winners’ badges.
Business Champion of the Year: The Final Straw Foundation
The Final Straw Foundation, a Hampshire-based charity, has been recognised for its ongoing efforts to reduce plastic pollution. Since 2018, the foundation has worked with businesses and communities to promote sustainable alternatives to single-use plastics and organise regular clean-ups.
A long-time supporter of Unblocktober, the charity actively shares its messages and engages in awareness initiatives. This year, the Unblocktober team joined one of the foundation’s beach clean-ups in Portsmouth to reinforce their shared commitment.
Marketing officer Amy Rushton highlighted the campaign’s impact:
“We love the way Unblocktober has tackled the issue of drainage head-on but with kindness, support and encouragement.
“We actively try to follow all the amazing guidance shared by the Unblocktober team. For example, in our office we do not flush anything other than the Three Ps down the toilet (pee, poo and paper), and we also avoid rinsing any food crumbs into our sink. We now use a food waste bin, so that it’s easier to dispose of our food waste, and no sneaky crumbs make their way into the drains.”
Individual Champion of the Year: Peter Henley
Peter Henley, Head of Pollution and Flooding Reduction at the Water Research Centre (WRc), has been awarded for his contributions to wastewater research and public awareness. A key advocate for Unblocktober since its inception in 2019, Peter has consistently promoted responsible flushing through media appearances, published articles, and social media engagement.
His commitment extends beyond his professional role, earning him the nickname ‘Three Ps Pete’ at WRc for reinforcing the message of only flushing pee, poo, and paper.
“Every wipe flushed or oil poured down the drain contributes to pollution and system failures. Water companies can’t fix this alone – everyone has a role to play,” Peter said.
Newcomer of the Year: Harkeerat Kaur
Harkeerat Kaur, a community engagement officer at ECAS, has been recognised for her role in a project preventing fat, oil, and grease (FOG) from entering the sewer system through Gurdwara kitchens in the West Midlands.
Working with ECAS, Severn Trent, Gurdwara Aid, and Lifecycle Oils, Harkeerat helped educate communities on FOG pollution. Grease traps were installed and maintained for free, with collected waste oils recycled into sustainable energy. The initiative is set to prevent thousands of litres of FOG from entering the sewer system annually.
“Collaboration is key – bringing people together creates real change,” Harkeerat said. “For me, being an Unblocktober ambassador is about making a difference all year round.”
Looking Ahead to Unblocktober 2025
Jacob Larkin, spokesperson for Unblocktober, praised this year’s winners for their dedication: “The Unblocktober Awards celebrate the people and organisations making a real difference in the fight against sewer blockages and pollution. The 2024 winners have not only embraced the campaign’s principles but have gone above and beyond to create long-term change in their communities. Their efforts show that small actions can have a huge impact, and we hope their work inspires even more people to get involved next year.”
The Unblocktober Awards continue to highlight those driving positive environmental change. Congratulations to this year’s winners, and we look forward to welcoming new champions in 2025.
