Wipes Get Mandatory 'Do Not Flush' Labels Under New Bill Aiming to Protect Pipes

This legislation mandates clear 'Do Not Flush' labels, including a specific symbol and text, on certain disposable wipes. The rule applies to products like pre-moistened baby wipes, cleaning wipes, and personal care wipes made with materials likely to cause plumbing issues if flushed. The core goal is straightforward: stop these wipes from clogging up sewer systems and polluting waterways. These labeling requirements are set to kick in one year after the bill becomes law.

The bill gets specific about how and where these warnings must appear. Depending on whether the wipes come in a cylindrical tub, flexible film pack, or other container, the 'Do Not Flush' symbol (sourced from industry groups INDA/EDANA) and text must be prominently displayed – often near where you pull the wipe out. Key rules ensure visibility: the labels can't be hidden by folds, must take up at least 2% of the main display panel, and need high contrast (like dark text on a light background) to be easily readable. Manufacturers are also explicitly banned from marketing these covered wipes as 'flushable.' The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) gets the enforcement job, treating violations like false advertising, and importantly, these federal rules will override any conflicting state-level labeling laws.

So, what does this mean in the real world? You'll start seeing very clear warnings on wipe packages, making it harder to accidentally flush something that could cause a costly clog in your home's plumbing or contribute to bigger blockages in municipal sewer systems. For cities and towns, this could eventually mean lower costs for wastewater system maintenance and fewer sewage backups. The main adjustment falls on manufacturers, who'll need to update their packaging designs. While this aims to prevent expensive infrastructure problems down the line, there's a chance those redesign costs could slightly nudge up the price you pay at the checkout.