Associations Collaborate to Launch Improved Guidelines for Wipes Disposal

March 20, 2015
The group also will meet to discuss the establishment of a new product stewardship initiative

A group of five associations, representing the water sector and the nonwoven fabrics industry, announced that they are working collaboratively on the joint development of a new edition of guidelines that will influence product design and support the marketing of nonwoven products as “flushable,” with no adverse effects on wastewater systems.

The associations also announced a meeting to take place March 26, in Washington, DC, where they will explore the establishment of a collaborative product stewardship initiative to promote greater responsibility for the proper disposal of nonwoven products, including wipes not designed to be flushed.

The association group, which includes INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry; the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA); the American Public Works Assn. (APWA); the Water Environment Federation (WEF); and the Canadian Water and Wastewater Assn. (CWWA), began developing the new edition on Jan. 27, 2015 and is scheduled to complete the process by July 2016.

The new Fourth Edition guidelines will build on the framework of the Third Edition Guidance Document for Assessing the Flushability of Nonwoven Disposable Products, which is the current voluntary guidance used by the wipes industry. The Third Edition Guidance Document represents a reasonable framework to which new information and collaborative sharing of technical expertise between the wastewater sector and the nonwoven fabrics industry should be applied to further improve the flushability guidelines.

The primary goal for the March 26 meeting will be to explore opportunities to increase public and consumer awareness about the proper disposal of the nonwoven wipes products, and also to increase the wipes industry’s responsibility over downstream impacts of these products. The meeting will include wastewater sector representatives, as well as the sustainability and marketing leaders of the nonwoven fabrics industry.

“Some nonwoven wipes products are not designed to be flushed but get inappropriately flushed anyway, so INDA is working together with NACWA, APWA, WEF and CWWA to develop improved flushability guidelines and other efforts to help alleviate the problems caused in the wastewater systems,” said INDA President Dave Rousse.

As a group, the associations would like to see improvement in the labeling of wipes that are not designed to be flushed, as well as the development of strategies for a broader consumer education effort about the proper disposal of wipes. “APWA welcomes the collaborative product stewardship process, and the discussions about the products that are commonly flushed and causing problems in wastewater systems,” said APWA Executive Director Peter B. King. “Public works professionals across North America also welcome the improved labeling of products to educate consumers and reduce the amount of non-flushable products in our municipal water systems.”

The intent, following the initial product stewardship meeting, is for the associations to develop a roadmap for future activities, including improved product labeling, increased public education, and better consumer information regarding product flushability. Depending on the directions developed during the product stewardship process, the initiative could be expanded to include other consumer products that are commonly flushed and cause problems in wastewater systems, such as paper towels, feminine hygiene products, cotton swabs and other materials.

“NACWA looks forward to working with the wipes industry to help improve consumer awareness about products that should and should not be flushed,” said NACWA Executive Director Ken Kirk. “Toilets are not trash cans, and reducing the amount of inappropriately flushed products will save utilities millions of dollars each year.”

”The burden created by non-flushable products for public wastewater utilities must be reduced,” said WEF Executive Director Eileen O’Neill. “The new flushability guidelines and collaborative efforts to improve product stewardship practices are important steps to reducing negative impacts by improving product design and increasing consumer awareness about what should and should not be flushed."

Source: American Public Works Assn.

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