Is it really that time of year again? At Happy Drains we LOVE CHRISTMAS!
“Tis the season to be Jolly” after all. Spending quality time with family and friends, giving and receiving of gifts and of course enjoying that Christmas dinner with all the trimmings.
But for your home’s drainage system, it can be a very challenging time of year.
Turkey fat, vegetable peelings even Granny’s famous lump free gravy can lead to blockages, fatbergs and a whole lot of unnecessary stress. It’s this post Christmas dinner clear up that can come back to bite you. So this year, why not try our creative and eco-friendly alternative? Turn those leftover fats and scraps into a Christmas treat for wildlife by making your own bird feeder.
The Problem with Fats in Drains
When fats, oil and food scraps are poured down the sink they don’t just magically disappear.
As they cool, they solidify and harden, clinging to the insides of your pipes. Add this to existing food debris in your system to form fatbergs… and hey presto! You’ve got a blockage. It’s a recipe for disaster that will wreak havoc with your plumbing.
The staggering reality: the average Christmas turkey can produce up to ¾ pint (400ml) of fat after roasting. Now, imagine this multiplied by every household in Great Britain. With over 12 million turkeys cooked each year for Christmas, that’s a potential 4.8 million litres of fat heading down our drains—enough to fill almost two Olympic-sized swimming pools!
This fat contributes to the 300,000 sewer blockages reported annually in the UK, costing water companies millions to clear and causing significant environmental damage.
So why not put these fats and scraps to better use and help local wildlife thrive in these colder months?
How to Make a Bird Feeder from Christmas Leftovers
Creating a bird feeder is simple and a great activity for the whole family.
Here’s how you can do it:
1.Gather Your Materials:
•Leftover fats (e.g., cooled turkey or goose fat)
•Breadcrumbs, seeds, and chopped nuts
•String or twine
•An empty yogurt pot or similar container
2.Mix It Up:
Combine the fat with your dry ingredients to create a thick, mouldable mixture.
3.Shape and Set:
Fill your yogurt pot with the mixture and press it down firmly.
Insert a loop of string through the centre so you can hang it later.
Place the pot in the fridge or freezer until solid.
4.Hang It Up:
Once set, pop the mixture out of the pot and hang it in your garden or from a
nearby tree.
Save your Drains and Help Nature
If every household in the UK reused their leftover fats, it could prevent millions of litres of waste from clogging drains AND provide much-needed sustenance for birds during the colder months.
It is Christmas after all and we should all be sparing a thought for those less fortunate than ourselves.
Need Help with Your Drains This Christmas?
If you find yourself with a blocked drain or need expert advice, Happy Drains is here to help. Call us on 020 8166 8630 / 07824 757572 for fast, reliable service—no matter the time of year.
From all of us at Happy Drains, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Hap-Hap-Happy New Year!
