Indeed, it seems that these mysterious black balls that washed up on the shores of a Sydney beach were later identified as mini ‘fatbergs’. These are essentially clumps of fat, grease, oil, and non-biodegradable solid matter such as wet wipes and sanitary products that come together to form solid lumps.
While they can occur naturally, they’re more often a result of human activity – like flushing inappropriate items down the toilet or sink. When they grow large, they can block sewer pipelines, a significant issue in places like London where fatbergs as long as double-decker buses have been found.
The black balls smelled foul due to the combination of organic matter, including fecal matter, urine, and other waste materials. The presence of bacteria and other microbes can also contribute to the stench.
Professional clean-up crews are typically tasked with removing fatbergs to ensure they don’t pose a marine pollution threat or hazard to local wildlife.
