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Call for Toilet Scrappage Scheme
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The Chancellor’s pre-budget report gave some hope to both eco-warriors and the plumbing industry. Buried amongst the grim economic news was the announcement of a new boiler scrappage scheme, long called for by industry leaders.
The success of the motor industry ‘car scrappage scheme’ has encouraged Alistair Darling to introduce a similar measurers for old and inefficient boilers. Under the plans householders will be able to trade in their existing boiler for a new more efficient eco friendly model.
“The boiler scrappage scheme is very welcome,” says Yvonne Orgill, chief executive of the Bathroom Manufacturers Association (BMA). “It will go some way in improving our nation’s energy efficiency. But now is the time to start thinking seriously about water efficiency and we believe that major strides can be made in saving our increasingly scarce water resources by replacing the UK’s 11 million water guzzling toilets. A WC scrappage scheme is now on the cards.”

The government estimates that of the 45 million WCs installed in the UK the average consumes around 9 litres of fresh drinking water at every flush. Furthermore, 7 million pans flush with 13 litres – that’s an astonishing 3 gallons. The very latest eco-friendly WCs flush with as little as 2.6 litres (just over half a gallon) on their short flush.
“The use of crude cistern displacement devices, like the Hippo, to reduce flush volume is not the answer to the nations water stress,” says Orgill. “What we really need to do now is to replace the water guzzlers once and for all. A simple scrappage scheme is called for which will quickly and cost effectively scrap the “bad boy in the bathroom.”
Similar schemes have been very successful in other countries and its introduction in the UK would have a dramatic effect on the nation’s water consumption.
In an average household the WC is flushed around 5000 times a year. If an old inefficient 13 litre pan is replaced with a modern eco-friendly product flushing with an average 3 litres each household can potentially save an annual 50,000 litres.
Members of the BMA have introduced products which are both water and energy saving. A WC scrappage scheme will have real and lasting benefits in the UK and the BMA will be lobbying hard to get the government to consider its introduction as soon as possible.”

Further Information
For further information please email info@bathroom-association.org.uk or telephone 01782 747123 and visit www.bathroom-association.org
For the UK’s database of water efficient bathroom products visit www.water-efficiencylabel.org.uk/

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