Michigan Water Environment Association & Responsible Flushing Alliance support new Michigan wet wipes labeling law
Law goes into effect requiring the ‘Do Not Flush’ symbol on baby wipes, other wet wipes not meant for flushing
LANSING, Mich. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — #DoNotFlush — Starting Feb. 1, the new Michigan law requires baby wipes, surface cleaning wipes, and other non-flushable wipes commonly used in the bathroom to prominently display the “Do Not Flush” symbol on packaging.
The law aims to help consumers easily recognize wipes that should never be flushed, as these wipes can cause damage to sewage infrastructure. Michigan clean water utilities pay an estimated $18 million per year in unplanned operating expenses to make repairs and clean up rag balls of non-flushable wipes.
“We want to remind people that the toilet is not a trash can,” said Cheryl Vosburg, Executive Director of the Michigan Water Environment Association (MWEA). “When residents flush things they shouldn’t, like baby wipes, it can cause significant damage to local sewage infrastructure.”
Michigan is one of seven states to require the proper labeling of non-flushable wet wipes. Other states include California, Washington, Oregon, Illinois, Colorado, and New Jersey. Additionally, Congress is considering federal legislation called the WIPPES Act. Like the state laws, supported by both wastewater and the wipes industry, the WIPPES Act would make it a national requirement for all baby wipes and other non-flushable wipes made with plastic fibers to have the “Do Not Flush” label.
“Clear and well-placed disposal instructions on non-flushable wipes are key to consumer understanding of which categories of wipes should not be flushed,” said Lara Wyss, president of the Responsible Flushing Alliance (RFA). “We know from consumer surveys that product packaging is the most trusted place from which people get disposal instructions, making the labeling law an important step in educating people about proper flushing habits.”
Flushable vs. non-flushable
Around 90% of all wet wipes across various categories sold in the U.S. are considered non-flushable because they are made with long and often plastic fibers. These durable fibers are necessary for wiping tasks, such as hard surface cleaning or diapering. The other 10% of wet wipes sold in the U.S. are considered flushable wipes because they are made with short, plant-based, biodegradable fibers (not plastic) and are specifically engineered to break down in water, similar to toilet paper. For that reason, labeling laws requiring the “Do Not Flush” symbol apply solely to non-flushable wipes and not wipes labeled as flushable.
Michigan’s flushing knowledge
RFA conducted a recent survey1 of Michigan adults to gauge their knowledge of smart flushing habits. Here are the results (and infographic link):
- 78% of Michigan residents surveyed recognize the “Do Not Flush” symbol
- 93% reported know what should and shouldn’t be flushed
Despite this, some Michigan residents are still not practicing responsible flushing habits…
- 48% self-reported flushing something they knew wasn’t flushable in the past year
- 25% mistakenly believe all soft-paper or products are flushable (includes paper towels)
- 14% mistakenly think (or aren’t sure if) baby wipes are flushable
- 10% mistakenly think (or aren’t sure if) makeup removal wipes are flushable
- 8% falsely believe (or aren’t sure if) cleaning/disinfecting wipes are flushable
The proper labeling of wet wipes law, coupled with education, is a step in the right direction to help curb consumer confusion and change flushing behaviors (Michigan law explained video link).
What not to flush
Common items found in sewage treatment clogs that should never be flushed in the toilet or poured down the drain include:
- Baby wipes, diapers, washcloths
- Cleaning wipes, paper towels
- Tampons and other period products
- Cotton swabs, balls, and pads
- Makeup sponges, makeup removal wipes, and sheet masks
- Fats, cooking oil, grease (FOG)
- Trash, wrappers, condoms
- Cat litter or wood chips/pellets
Which flushed items can clog sewers?
The RFA, the California Association of Wastewater Agencies (CASA), and the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry (INDA) jointly conducted a sewage system collection study in Northern and Southern California to take a forensic look at what’s being flushed down the toilet that shouldn’t be. More than 1,700 items were pulled during peak flow times from the bar screens of the wastewater treatment facilities in the Inland Empire (IEUA) and Contra Costa County (Central San).
The primary categories of items collected, analyzed, and identified at these two study locations included 34.1% wipes labeled with the “Do Not Flush” symbol, 64.9% other non-flushable items (paper towels, period products, trash, etc.), and 0.9% wipes labeled as flushable. All non-flushable wipes were fully intact, whereas the flushable wipes were shredded and in the process of falling apart.
This California collection study is the most recent study undertaken, and the results were similar to other studies conducted previously, providing confidence that the results represent America’s flushing habits.
“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.
More information on the collection study, including the full report issued by Kennedy-Jenks, an independent engineering firm tasked with constructing and facilitating the study, can be found at www.flushsmart.org/myth-vs-fact.
About Michigan Water Environment Association
MWEA, established in 1925, is one of Michigan’s oldest organizations. MWEA represents more than 2,000 water quality professionals statewide who are dedicated to preserving, restoring, and enhancing Michigan’s water resources. MWEA is a member association of the Water Environment Federation (WEF), an international organization with more than 34,000 members worldwide.
About the Responsible Flushing Alliance
The RFA is a 501(c)(6) non-profit organization dedicated to consumer education focused on what should and should not be flushed. RFA’s goal is to change consumer behavior to help reduce damage to our nation’s sewage systems and infrastructure caused by objects and materials not designed to be flushed. For more information, visit www.flushsmart.org or follow @flushsmart on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, YouTube, and X.
1 Fieldwork was conducted with adult (18+) residents of the state of Michigan. Quotas were created to ensure the mix of respondents was representative of the state and reflective of census data by geography, gender, ethnicity, and other demographics. The research was conducted using an online survey panel, took an average of 7 minutes to complete, and included 28 questions. The survey received 1,018 responses. Fieldwork for the survey began on Dec. 15 and lasted until Dec. 30, 2024.
With a probabilistic sample, a total of 1,018 responses at the 95% confidence level offers a 3.1% margin of error. The margin of error can be used as a guideline to understand the reliability of these results.
Contacts
Lara Wyss
Responsible Flushing Alliance
