The topic of flushability—what to flush and what to throw in the garbage bin—has remained an important topic within the nonwovens and disposable wipes industry for more than a decade. As the nonwovens industry has defended itself against false claims that flushable wipes are responsible for sewage clogs around the globe with more stringent testing methods and labeling practices, wipes producers have also focused on innovation, making substrates that can disperse quickly in septic systems.

Amidst these efforts, the wipes market achieved a major milestone last month when the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Wastewater Infrastructure Pollution Prevention and Environments Safety (WIPPES) Act, which­—if approved by the Senate—would create national standards for “Do Not Flush” labeling for non-flushable wipes. The bill, which now awaits consideration in the Senate Science, Commerce, and Energy Committee, is intended to address the growing problem of sewer system clogs caused by improper disposal of consumer wipes that are not intended to be disposed of in toilets.

What is particularly encouraging about the passage of this legislation is that it represents collaboration between the makers of wipes and wastewater operators—two parties that were once viciously at odds with each other. After years of debate over testing methods and labeling practices, these two parties are seeing eye to eye on what needs to be done to help keep sewage systems safe.

Over the years, INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, and CASA, the California Association of Sewage Agencies—and similar organizations—have butted heads over what exactly is safe to be flushed and which products are actually responsible for sewage clogs around the globe. However, through collaboration and education, these agencies have come to develop a strong working relationship that has helped advance their joint cause—to keep non-flushable wipes out of toilets—and achieve important milestones like the passage of the WIPPES Act. Both parties agree, wipes are here to stay and consumer education and awareness is the key to proper disposal of these products.

These advancements could not come at a more critical time. Fueled by the success of entrepreneurial brands like Dude Wipes and Goodwipes as well as international companies like Nice-Pak and Kimberly-Clark, the use of flushable wipes, or moist toilet tissue, is growing more quickly than traditional dry formats. While these formats are 100% safe to flush, it is important that consumers know the difference between what can and cannot go down their drains.

Karen McIntyre
editor
[email protected]