CARY, NC, WASHINGTON, D.C., Sept. 18, 2013 -- Four companies -- INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry; the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA); the Water Environment Federation (WEF); and the American Public Works Association (APWA) -- have all agreed to work together to help reduce the burden of non-flushable disposable products in the wastewater system.
These non-flushable products have been linked to expensive clogging issues for utilities and can potentially lead to costly sewer back-ups in communities and households across the country. The associations believe that rigorous product assessment before making a flushable claim, along with improved product labeling, would significantly reduce the amount of non-flushable items in the sewer system.
"Some products are designed to be flushed, while others are not. It is the products that are not designed to be flushed, but get flushed anyway, that are creating the problem for wastewater systems, and we are working collaboratively to change this," says President of INDA, Dave Rousse.
"The problems in the sewer system are caused by the flushing of products that don’t properly break apart in the sewer system -- products such as baby wipes, personal care wipes, paper towels, and feminine care products. These products are sometimes disposed of in toilets because of how and where they are used, causing significant economic burdens on local wastewater treatment systems," says NACWA Director of Regulatory Affairs, Cynthia Finley.
To assist companies with product flushability assessments and to provide guidance on proper labeling, INDA and its European counterpart, EDANA, recently released a Code of Practice for manufacturers and marketers of wipes and other disposable nonwoven products that includes a detailed decision tree to determine the proper labeling of a product. Before a flushable claim can be made for products intended to be flushed, the product should be subjected to the seven rigorous tests found in INDA's/EDANA's newly released 3rd Edition Guidance Document for Assessing the Flushability of Nonwoven Disposable Products (available here). If a product is not designed to be flushed, but used in a manner where the consumer might flush it nonetheless, then the Code of Practice prescribes that the product packaging should display the Do Not Flush logo prominently and of a minimum size or larger. INDA's research indicates that 94 percent of people who were shown the Do Not Flush logo knew what it meant even if they had never seen it before.
"INDA’s new Guidelines demonstrate continued progress for determining flushability," says Manager of WEF's Water Science & Engineering Center, Christine Radke. "We also believe that the Guidelines could be further improved to ensure that flushable wipes break apart more rapidly and, therefore, are more sewer-friendly. We are pleased that INDA will be working with us to improve testing procedures that ensure flushable products are compatible with sewer systems."
"We welcome the Code of Practice and use of the Do Not Flush logo for the non-flushable products that are causing problems for utilities. Prominent use of the Do Not Flush logo on package labels represents a viable path forward for educating consumers and reducing the amount on non-flushable items in the wastewater system," says Director of Sustainability at APWA, Julia Anastasio. "We are excited to see more brand owners using the Do Not Flush logo, with some even using the logo on the top of packaging where it is easily seen by consumers each time they use the product."
"We welcome the support of NACWA, WEF, and APWA and look forward to continuing our dialogue as we tackle this problem together. We all support good product stewardship and doing what’s right for the environment. That includes making sure that products that claim to be flushable will not harm the sewer system, and educating consumers on proper disposal by ensuring that disposable products not designed to be flushed are properly labeled with the Do Not Flush logo," adds President INDA, Dave Rousse.
About INDA
INDA, Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, serves hundreds of member companies in the nonwovens/engineered fabrics industry doing business globally. Since 1968, INDA networking events have helped members connect, innovate and develop their businesses. INDA educational courses, market data, test methods, consultancy and issue advocacy help members succeed by providing them the information they need to better plan and execute their business strategies. For more information, visit www.inda.org.
About NACWA
NACWA represents the interests of more than 300 public agencies and organizations that have made the pursuit of scientifically based, technically sound and cost-effective laws and regulations their objective. NACWA members serve the majority of the sewered population in the United States and collectively treat and reclaim more than 18 billion gallons of wastewater daily. For more information, visit www.nacwa.org.
About WEF
Founded in 1928, the Water Environment Federation (WEF) is a not-for-profit technical and educational organization of 36,000 individual members and 75 affiliated Member Associations representing water quality professionals around the world. WEF members, Member Associations and staff proudly work to achieve our mission to provide bold leadership, champion innovation, connect water professionals, and leverage knowledge to support clean and safe water worldwide. To learn more, visit www.wef.org.
About APWA
The American Public Works Association (APWA) is a not-for-profit, international organization of more than 28,500 members involved in the field of public works. APWA serves its members by promoting professional excellence and public awareness through education, advocacy and the exchange of knowledge. APWA is headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, has an office in Washington, D.C. and 63 chapters in North America. For more information, visit www.apwa.net.
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