MERKLEY, COLLEAGUES INTRODUCE BILL TO WIPE OUT NON-FLUSHABLES FROM WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE

Thursday, April 27, 2023

By:  KTVZ News Sources

KTVZ

WASHINGTON (KTVZ) — Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) has teamed up with Maine’s Senator Susan Collins and Representatives Mary Peltola (D-AK) and Lisa McClain (R-MI-09) to introduce the Wastewater Infrastructure Pollution Prevention and Environmental Safety (WIPPES) Act. This bipartisan, bicameral bill aims to address heath, ecosystem, and wastewater infrastructure concerns caused by the flushing of non-flushable wet wipes.

“When non-flushable wipes are sent through our sewage systems as a means of disposal, Oregon’s wastewater facilities face costly repairs and maintenance,” said Senator Merkley. “What’s more, these wipes are made of synthetic plastic fibers-they are not biodegradable-meaning these wipes break down into harmful microplastics. This bill is a necessary first step in making sure these products are accurately labeled so they can be appropriately disposed of, keeping our water clean and ensuring our wastewater infrastructure is safe and efficient.”

“Many consumers who use wet wipes are unaware that flushing these products creates significant problems for plumbing, wastewater treatment equipment, and septic systems,” said Senator Collins. “This legislation would require manufactures to label non-flushable wet wipes, providing consumers with the information they need to safely dispose of them. I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense legislation that will help prevent homeowners and taxpayers from having to pay for expensive repairs.”

“During the COVID pandemic, Anchorage wastewater workers reported pulling up to 6,000 pounds of wipes daily out of the sewer system,” said Rep. Peltola. “To address this issue, I’m proud to be a leader on the WIPPES Act, a common-sense bill that would take a significant step towards reducing the amount of trash that ends up in our sewers, rivers, and oceans. Every step that we can take to improve our wastewater infrastructure and marine habitats is worth it, especially when it’s as simple as adding a sentence to a package. It’s time to wipe out this problem for good.”

“Plumbing and wastewater treatment services are vital in our country, and they are put in danger whenever non-flushable wipes are flushed into that infrastructure” said Rep. McClain. “By ensuring wipe manufacturers properly label their packaging as non-flushable, consumers can help prevent the damaging consequences that lead to major breakdowns and backups.” 

The WIPPES Act addresses the pervasive but ultimately preventable problem of the flushing of non-flushable wet wipes. Many of these products are composed of manufactured plastic fibers or other strong fibers. While these products are not marketed as flushable, consumers often assume that they are and frequently flush them into sewer systems as a means of disposal. Due to their strong fibers, these types of wipes do not break down as they travel through the sewer systems. Instead, the wipes become magnets attracting fats, oils and grease and become obstructions in sewerage systems pipes that clog pumps, block sewer collection systems, and jam motors that lead to sewage backups and treatment equipment failures. They also contribute to the harmful proliferation of microplastics in our water systems.

The WIPPES Act directs the Federal Trade Commission, in consultation with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (as appropriate depending on the type of covered product involved) to issue regulations on “Do Not Flush” labeling requirements for the covered products defined in the bill, which includes baby wipes, household wipes, disinfecting wipes or personal care wipes.

This legislation is cosponsored by Senators Angus King (I-ME), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA). 

The WIPPES Act is endorsed by the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA), , California Association of Sanitation Agencies (CASA), Association of Nonwoven Fabrics Industry (INDA), Kimberly-Clark, Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA), National Stewardship Action Council, Water Environment Federation, Procter & Gamble, and Oregon Association of Clean Water Agencies.