Wipes Packaging Prominently Displaying the "Do Not Flush" Symbol Means those Wipes Should be Disposed of in the Trash and Never the Toilet

SEATTLE , Oct. 15, 2022 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The Responsible Flushing Alliance (RFA), a non-profit association dedicated to providing consumers with educational materials about what should and should not be flushed, released its first in a series of "Most Wanted" items that shouldn't be flushed.

Baby wipes, cleaning wipes, and makeup removal wipes are at the top of the list of wipes that should not be flushed as they are not designed to easily break down in water. Other culprits include medications, period products, paper towels, dental floss, as well as fats, oils, and grease (FOG).

"The aim of the RFA is to educate consumers to identify the "Do Not Flush" symbol on the front of wipes packaging to determine proper disposal practices," said Lara Wyss , president of the Responsible Flushing Alliance. "It's important to remember that just because an item can physically clear the toilet does not mean that it should be flushed."

According to "The Cost of Wipes on America's Clean Water Utilities" report from the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA), an estimated $441 million a year in additional operating costs were incurred by U.S. clean water utilities. In addition to expensive cleanup, flushing wipes and other non-flushable items can cause a negative impact on the environment. The U.S. EPA estimates that up to 75,000 sewer overflow incidents occur every year, dumping 850 billion gallons of raw sewage.

The RFA "Most Wanted" poster features caricatures of what's clogging our nation's sewage infrastructure:

This year, California , Washington , Oregon , and Illinois enacted laws requiring the "Do Not Flush" symbol to be prominently displayed on the front of packaging of disposable wet wipes not intended for flushing. The labeling of non-flushable wipes that are primarily used in a bathroom setting makes it easier for consumers to know how to appropriately dispose of the product.

All Wipes are Not Created Equally

"It's worth recognizing what kind of wipes are causing clogs, including non-flushable baby wipes and cleaning wipes versus flushable toilet wipes," Wyss said. "Non-flushable wipes have the "Do Not Flush" symbol on packaging as those types of wipes are made with long, often synthetic fibers that are meant to be durable. Flushable wipes, in contrast, are made of short, all-natural fibers that are made to disperse in water, similar to toilet paper."

The Responsible Flushing Alliance (RFA) is a 501(c)(6) non-profit organization dedicated to consumer education focused on what not to flush. RFA's goal is to change consumer behavior to help reduce damage to our nation's sewage systems caused by objects and materials not designed to be flushed. For more information, visit https://flushsmart.org or on Facebook and Twitter.

Lara Wyss , Responsible Flushing Alliance, 206-487-4570, lara@flushsmart.org

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