In the heart of London’s East end, the largest fatberg ever discovered became both a symbol of modern waste habits and a feat of urban engineering. Weighing an astonishing 130 tonnes and stretching 250 metres – about the length of 11 double-decker buses – the Whitechapel fatberg blocked a section of Victorian-era sewers for over two months.
A Monster of Unprecedented Size
Nicknamed the “monster fatberg”, the Whitechapel fatberg made history in 2017, clogging the sewers which spanned more than twice the length of two Wembley football pitches. The task of removing this colossal mass took nine gruelling weeks, with workers removing 20-30 tonners per 8-hour shifts.
Despite advances in waste management and sewerage technology, the dense, rock-like structure of fatbergs means that manual labour remains the most effective method for their removal. Dozens of workers put in backbreaking efforts to break the fatberg into smaller, more manageable chunks. This was no easy task, given the vile smell—comparable to rotting meat—and the dangerous gases released upon breaking into the fatberg. Workers had to wear breathing apparatus at all times, a particularly unpleasant requirement in the hot, humid environment of the sewers.
These "monsters" not only cost millions to remove but also pose serious public health risks, leading to flooding and environmental pollution. Traditionally, specialised teams would tackle these blockages in nighttime operations, but with the rising population, the amount of fats, oils, grease, and other items entering our sewer systems has surged dramatically, making these blockages more frequent and harder to manage.
A Glimpse into Our Disposable Culture
Composed of 93% wet wipes, this mass of congealed fat and solid waste highlights the dire consequences of modern disposal habits. Wipes labelled as “flushable” are costing millions each year as fatbergs become more common. As Tim Adams aptly put it, this reflects our “out of sight, out of mind” culture, where people flush items they know they shouldn’t—like tampons, condoms, and grease—believing it will not affect them.
The thriving maggots within the damp fatberg, eating away at our waste serve as a grim reminder of the environmental toll of convenience we often choose. Many of us, in some aspect of our lives, are guilty of adopting a throwaway lifestyle—disposing of items carelessly for the sake of ease, without considering the long-term consequences. From plastic water bottles to clothes, to even fat down the drains.
These seemingly small, everyday choices across the nation are adding up. An estimated 300,000 fatbergs are removed from sewers each year. While we only hear about the massive ones, fatbergs are a common and costly problem in drainage systems, requiring significant time and resources to remove.
Fatberg Famous – Museum of London Exhibit
As a tribute to the workers who laboured to break it apart, a small piece of the Monster Fatberg was displayed at the Museum of London, curated by Vyki Sparkes. The “Fatberg!” exhibition became the star of the "City Now City Future" season from February to July 2018. Resembling something from outer space, visitors were captivated by the bizarre sight of the fatberg, with a piece of a Double Decker chocolate wrapper poking out—an unsettling reminder that this human-made problem is entirely avoidable if we change our disposal habits.
A Green Legacy and The Future
Like most fatbergs, the Whitechapel was converted into biodiesel. Over 10,000 litres were produced from the extracted waste, turning this greasy monster into a valuable fuel source. This transformation highlights how modern solutions can turn even the worst forms of waste into something beneficial, showcasing our potential for positive impact.
The Whitechapel fatberg remains a cautionary tale, reminding us how easily avoidable actions can create massive urban infrastructure challenges. Population growth, overconsumption, and a lack of awareness about proper waste disposal have led to improperly managed waste on a large scale. While plastic pollution in our oceans often makes headlines, the issues within our sewage systems receive less attention, despite its growing significance. For London, this monstrous fatberg is a stark lesson in waste management, sustainability, and the critical importance of mindful living. Remember to only dispose of your three p’s: pee, poo, and paper!
