Michigan enacts law mandating clear labeling on non-flushable wipes

The Responsible Flushing Alliance (RFA) has expressed its support for a new Michigan law mandating that non-flushable wipes, including baby wipes, surface cleaning wipes, makeup removal wipes, and other similar products, display the “Do Not Flush” symbol prominently on their packaging. This legislation aimed to assist consumers in distinguishing between wipes that should and should not be flushed.

Michigan joined six other states — California, Washington, Oregon, Illinois, Colorado, and New Jersey — in requiring clear labeling of non-flushable wet wipes. Furthermore, federal legislation known as the WIPPES Act has passed the House and is currently under consideration in the Senate. This act would establish a nationwide requirement for all baby wipes and other non-flushable wipes containing plastic fibers to feature the “Do Not Flush” symbol.

“We applaud Michigan’s passage of the proper labeling of non-flushable wipes law”, said Lara Wyss, president of the Responsible Flushing Alliance. “Clear and well-placed disposal instructions on non-flushable wipes are key to consumer understanding of which categories of wipes should not be flushed. At the RFA, our mission is to provide educational information to both consumers and wastewater agencies about smart flushing habits”.

In the U.S. market, approximately 90% of wet wipes are considered non-flushable due to their composition of long, often plastic fibers designed for tasks such as hard surface cleaning or diapering. The remaining 10% are classified as flushable, as they are made with short, plant-based, biodegradable fibers that are engineered to break down in water, similar to toilet paper. Consequently, labeling laws requiring the “Do Not Flush” symbol are applicable exclusively to non-flushable wipes.

The RFA, in collaboration with the California Association of Wastewater Agencies (CASA) and the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry (INDA), conducted a study in Northern and Southern California to examine items improperly flushed down toilets. More than 1,700 items were collected during peak flow times from bar screens at wastewater treatment facilities in the Inland Empire (IEUA) and Contra Costa County (Central San).

The study found that 34.1% of the items collected were wipes labeled with the “Do Not Flush” symbol, 64.9% were other non-flushable items such as paper towels, period products, and trash, and 0.9% were wipes labeled as flushable. The non-flushable wipes remained intact, while the flushable wipes were in the process of disintegrating.

This California collection study aligns with the results of previous similar studies. “If we can educate people about not flushing wipes with the ‘Do Not Flush’ symbol, paper towels, and feminine hygiene products, that would eliminate over 90% of things that shouldn’t be flushed”, Wyss added.