A group of five associations, representing the water sector and the nonwoven fabrics industry, announced they are working collaboratively on the joint development of a new edition of guidelines that will influence product design and support the marketing of nonwoven products as “flushable,” with no adverse effects on wastewater systems.  The associations have planned a meeting to take place March 26 in Washington, DC, where they will explore the establishment of a collaborative product stewardship initiative to promote greater responsibility for the proper disposal of nonwoven products, including wipes, not designed to be flushed.
 
The association group, which includes INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry; NACWA, the National Association of Clean Water Agencies; APWA, the American Public Works Association; WEF, the Water Environment Federation; as well as CWWA, the Canadian Water & Wastewater Association, began developing the new edition in January and is scheduled to complete the process by July 2016.  The new “Fourth Edition” guidelines will build on the framework of the “Third Edition Guidance Document for Assessing the Flushabiity of Nonwoven Disposable Products,” which is the current voluntary guidance used by the wipes industry.  The Third Edition Guidance Document represents a reasonable framework to which new information and collaborative sharing of technical expertise between the wastewater sector and the nonwoven fabrics industry should be applied to further improve the flushability guidelines.
 
The primary goal for the March 26 meeting will be to explore opportunities to increase public and consumer awareness about the proper disposal of the nonwoven wipes products and also to increase the wipes industry’s responsibility over downstream impacts of these products. The meeting will include wastewater sector representatives, as well as the sustainability and marketing leaders of the nonwoven fabrics industry.
 
Given the issues associated with non-flushable products, the group is eager to get started on these key objectives. “Some nonwoven wipes products are not designed to be flushed but get inappropriately flushed anyway, so INDA is working together with NACWA, APWA, WEF and CWWA to develop improved flushability guidelines and other efforts to help alleviate the problems caused in the wastewater systems,” says INDA president Dave Rousse.
 
As a group, the associations would like to see improvements in labeling wipes that are not designed to be flushed, as well as the development of strategies for a broader consumer education effort about the proper disposal of wipes. “APWA welcomes the collaborative product stewardship process, and the discussions about the products that are commonly flushed and causing problems in wastewater systems,” says APWA executive director Peter B. King. “Public works professionals across North America also welcome the improved labeling of products to educate consumers and reduce the amount of non-flushable products in our municipal water systems.”
 
The intent, following the initial product stewardship meeting, is for the associations to develop a roadmap for future activities, including improved product labeling, increased public education and better consumer information regarding product flushability.  Depending on the directions developed during the product stewardship process, the initiative could be expanded to include other consumer products that are commonly flushed and cause problems in wastewater systems, such as paper towels, feminine hygiene products, cotton swabs and other materials. 
 
“NACWA looks forward to working with the wipes industry to help improve consumer awareness about products that should and should not be flushed,” says NACWA executive director Ken Kirk. “Toilets are not trash cans and reducing the amount of inappropriately flushed products will save utilities millions of dollars each year.”
 
”The burden created by non-flushable products for public wastewater utilities must be reduced,” said WEF executive director Eileen O’Neill.  “The new flushability guidelines and collaborative efforts to improve product stewardship practices are important steps to reducing negative impacts by improving product design and increasing consumer awareness about what should and should not be flushed.”