Adults are now embracing what was once considered a luxury item for infants and small children. Wet wipes are not just glorified baby wipes. Adults all over the globe are singing praises for wet wipes.
Although many brands claim that their wet wipes are "flushable", how true is that statement? Unfortunately, the answer is not a simple yes/no. It involves the ACCC, a legal battle, and touches on microplastics as well as their environmental impact.
Flushable wipes can be flushed down the toilet
You might see the label "flushable" on the packaging, which indicates to you that it is safe to flush down your toilet. However, your water service provider might have a different opinion.
Sydney Water estimates that 75% of blockages are caused by wipes. They spend over $8 million annually to remove 500 tonnes of wet wipes. This number is growing every year!
A fatberg is a mass of fats, grease and other substances. The wastewater industry is facing an increasing number of problems due to congealed fats, grease, and wet wipes.
Although machines can remove most of the fatberg, workers still have to manually extract what is left. It's the last thing water service workers want to do.
We believe that flushable wipes should be kept out of the toilet. We recommend that you only flush the "Three Ps", i.e., pee, poo, and (toilet paper) paper.
If wastewater systems are experiencing problems due to the increased use of flushable wipes, then why are these wipes called "flushable?" The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission brought a legal case against several flushable wipe manufacturers, including Kimberly Clark and Cottonelle Flushable Cleansing Cloths.
ACCC in Federal Court
In December 2016, Kimberly Clark was taken to Federal Court by the ACCC. They claimed that the "flushable label" on their Cottonelle Flushable Cleansing Cloths had been misleading and false.
Now, let's fast forward to June 2019. The Federal Court rejected the ACCC’s case. It ruled that there wasn't enough evidence to show that the particular wipes were responsible for the blockages in our sewerage system.
ACCC appealed against the decision, but it was also rejected a year later. This was because the company responsible for these blockages could not be held accountable.
Does this mean that flushable wipes can be flushed safely? Not necessarily.
CHOICE, a consumer advocacy group, conducted a survey to determine how Australians perceive the term "flushable," about wipes. 67% of the 1679 respondents said that they expected flushable wipes would disintegrate like toilet paper, which is not true.
So, where's the confusion?
What does flushable mean?
Flushable is not regulated by any third parties. There is no single meaning of the term. Actually, flushable wipe manufacturers are the ones who define flush ability.
According to SBS flushable refers to the ability of this substance to pass through your plumbing system into the wastewater systems. This is great news for your plumbing but it can still cause problems in the larger sewer system.
ACCC and CHOICE advocate for greater regulation of the term "flushable".
Flushable wipes are not flushable
Toilet paper that is flushed will become weaker when it comes in contact with water. It will then break down into smaller pieces. Toilet paper that has been broken down poses minimal risk.
Although you might think that flushable wipes would lose strength and eventually break down like toilet paper, they are safe for the wastewater and plumbing systems.
CHOICE conducted a test in which they put different types of wipes and toilet papers into the water and stirred it for 20 hours. In less than three minutes, the toilet paper was completely disintegrated. During the whole 20-hour period, none of the wipes fell apart.
Although flushable wipes are a greater problem for the wastewater industry than they are for consumers, there are still problems to be aware of as a consumer. Sydney Water received a report about a woman who experienced a $16,000 plumber's bill after using these "flushable wipes".
What about biodegradable flushable wipes?
What about biodegradable flushable wipes? These will surely break down! This is why you shouldn't flush biodegradable wipes down your toilet.
Biodegradable wipes are compostable. Instead of throwing them away in a regular trash can, they can be used to make new products. They are made from natural materials and will eventually break down.
They will still block your toilets or sewerage system, but they won't break down easily.
Can Baby Wipes be Flushable?
Baby wipes cannot be flushed. Baby wipes are made just like regular flushable wipes and are durable to take care of little ones' messes. They won't break down in the toilet, so you won't have to worry about a blocked bathroom and all the mess that comes with it.
Flushable Wipes Environment
What about flushable wipes? They can cause a blockage within the sewerage system and overflowing. Not only will the sewage leak into the environment but also the wipes.
The overflow reached our water sources, and wet wipes were found in the vicinity of creeks. While we all know the terrible effects that rubbish has on marine life, have you ever considered how microplastics can impact our marine life?
There is ongoing research into how microplastics can be reduced. A study done in Ireland found that microplastics are more common than previously believed.
The study examined marine sediments located near wastewater treatment plants. Nearly all of the microplastics in the samples were identical to the fibres in wipes or other sanitary products.
Worse, half of all flushable wipes tested by the researchers contained PET. This synthetic polymer is often mixed with natural plastics, and used for its strength and durability. When describing something that should dissolve in water easily, strong and durable are not the best words to use. Many believe that natural polymers like cellulose are the best choice to make a wipe flushable. These will be more difficult to break down.
Many people also flush non-flushable wipes to make things worse. These wipes are mainly made from PET, so they don't easily break down. Many of the microplastics were actually found in non-flushable wipes.
All of this shows that the public needs to be more aware of the proper disposal of wipes, both non-flushable and flushable. To better reflect the actual consequences of flushing it down the toilet, the term "flushable", should be defined by an independent body.
How to dispose of flushable wipes
Only one way to dispose of flushable wipes correctly is in the trash! This is true for all types of wet wipes.
Properly disposing of your wipes will help prevent any blockages in your pipes or sewer lines. They are also less likely to end up in an environment, where they can cause more damage.
National Flushability Standard
In Australia, a national flushability standard could be introduced in mid-2022. Urban Utilities disposes of approximately 120 tonnes of wet wipes every year. This standard, which is a first in the world, aims to collaborate with utilities and manufacturers to determine what should and shouldn't be flushed down a toilet.
This standard has seven criteria that will determine if a product is flushable. They are required to meet these criteria to receive a pass/fail result. It is important to see how quickly it can disintegrate between your home and the first pump station that it will encounter. This takes around 30-60 minutes.
This national standard is close to completion after nine weeks of public comments. Anna Hartley, a spokesperson for Urban Utilities, stated that consumers are currently being left in the dark about the existence of a national standard. This will allow shoppers to make better choices and do the right things.
Unclog Your Toilet with Flushable Wipes
There are some things you can do if your toilet is clogged with flushable wipes.
Grab your plunger to get rid of the blockage. Although this might clear the blockage temporarily, you never know how much may be building up in your pipes.
It is best to call a professional plumber for CCTV drain inspection and Hydro jet drain cleaning. This will not only clear the blockage but also make your pipes look cleaner than they were before.