Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Susan Collins (R-ME), U.S. Representatives Lisa McClain (R-MI) and Kevin Mullin (D-CA) today reintroduced the bipartisan Wastewater Infrastructure Pollution Prevention and Environmental Safety (WIPPES) Act, a bill to address health, ecosystem, and wastewater infrastructure concerns caused by the flushing of non-flushable wet wipes.
“When non-flushable wipes are sent through our sewage systems, they plug the pipes. The resulting backups of sewage are not a pretty picture,” said Senator Merkley. “Accurately labelling wipes and other products as ‘non-flushable’ is a necessary step to ensure consumers appropriately dispose of their waste. Doing so will keep our water clean and our wastewater infrastructure 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 bipartisan legislation would require manufacturers to label non-flushable wet wipes, providing consumers with the information they need to safely dispose of them, and helping prevent homeowners and taxpayers from having to pay for expensive repairs.”
“Blockages from non-flushable wipes cost Michigan water utilities an additional $18 million annually. Clear packaging labels could prevent service disruptions and costly repairs that may lead to rate hikes,” said Rep. McClain. “This is a win-win for taxpayers and our communities. I look forward to working with public works officials across our district to protect this critical infrastructure.”
“Improper disposal of wet wipes damages wastewater infrastructure, costing California utilities and consumers tens of millions of dollars a year,” said Rep. Mullin. “That’s why water professionals in California’s 15th district and nationwide strongly support the WIPPES Act, which mandates clear ‘Do Not Flush’ labeling. This commonsense legislation is a critical step in protecting our infrastructure and the environment. By providing consumers with clearer guidance, the WIPPES Act will help reduce strain on our wastewater systems and safeguard taxpayer resources.”
The WIPPES Act addresses the pervasive, but ultimately preventable, problem of the flushing of non-flushable wet wipes by establishing “Do Not Flush” labeling requirements for products such as baby wipes, household wipes, disinfecting wipes, and personal care wipes. Many of these wipes are composed of manufactured plastic fibers or other strong fibers, and while these products are not marketed as flushable, consumers frequently flush them into sewer systems as a means of disposal. Due to 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 that become obstructions in sewerage systems pipes. These masses clog pumps, block sewer collection systems, and jam motors, leading to sewage backups and treatment equipment failures.
The WIPPES Act is endorsed by the American Public Works Association, American Rivers, Association of Nonwoven Fabrics Industry (INDA), Bay Area Pollution Prevention Group, California Association of Sanitation Agencies, Center for Baby and Adult Hygiene Products, Consumer Healthcare Products Association, ISSA (the Worldwide Cleaning Industry Association), National Association of Clean Water Agencies, National Rural Water Association, National Stewardship Action Council, Oak Lodge Water Services, Oregon Association of Clean Water Agencies, The Coalition for Clean Water, Washington Association of Sewer & Water Districts, Water Environment Federation, and 5Gyres.
“American Rivers Action Fund endorses the Wastewater Infrastructure Pollution Prevention and Environmental Safety (WIPPES) Act to address the serious threat that wipes pose to our wastewater systems. Unlike ordinary trash, wipes clog treatment plants, leading to costly shutdowns and increasing the overall expense of water treatment. Each year, millions of tons of debris end up in our waterways—jeopardizing water quality and impacting recreation in our communities. We urge Congress to support this bipartisan bill to tackle this growing infrastructure crisis,” said Tom Kiernan, President and CEO of the American Rivers Action Fund.
“INDA is proud to continue its support for the WIPPES Act, which was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives by an overwhelming bipartisan margin in 2024. The industry is committed to responsibly managing wipe products that are not designed to be flushable, protecting public infrastructure and the environment,” said INDA President Tony Fragnito. “The passage of this important legislation will have positive impacts on the environment, wastewater agencies, consumers, and manufacturers by mandating uniform ‘Do Not Flush’ labeling for covered products. This clear visual symbol, coupled with robust consumer education programs, are raising awareness about the proper disposal of these products. INDA applauds the sponsor’s vision to address this issue in a comprehensive and meaningful way. We look forward to our continued collaboration with the wastewater sector and other stakeholders to support this bill’s swift passage in Congress.”
“CASA applauds Senator Merkley and Senator Collins and Representative McClain and Representative Mullin for reintroducing the WIPPES Act. This bipartisan legislation addresses the flushing of non-flushable wipes that has plagued the clean water sector for decades and protects billions of dollars ratepayers have invested to clean up our waterways and protect public health. CASA appreciates continued federal leadership in establishing commonsense “Do Not Flush” labeling practices designed to address this problem at the source and ensure these wipes do not make their way into our wastewater systems,” said Adam Link, Executive Director of the California Association of Sanitation Agencies.
“We are thrilled to have bi-partisan support to make this “truth in labeling” law the standard nationally. When labels say “flushable” people believe it, they flush them, then have expensive clogs and added stress in their lives that is totally avoidable with standardized truthful labeling,” said Heidi Sanborn, Executive Director of the National Stewardship Action Council.
The full text of the WIPPES Act can be found by clicking HERE.
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