Inappropriate disposal of flushable' consumer products - Reasons for concern

Abstract

Inappropriate disposal of wipes and other products that are either explicitly labelled or assumed by the consumers to be flushable via toilets is increasingly being cited as the cause of a range of sewer systems issues. In the rapidly growing and diverse market for these consumer products, there are significant variations in consumer information provided by manufacturers, product composition and behaviour in different components of wastewater system. This paper summarizes the results of assessing the labelling, drainline clearance and disintegration testing of 101 consumer products, adopting the International Water Services Flushability Group flushability specifications. None of the products tested satisfy the product labelling Code of Practice, and all products other than bathroom tissue failed the disintegration test, including the 23 products that were labelled 'flushable'. The need for a global definition of a 'flushable' product exists and it is vital that it is brought into legislation in an effort to combat misconceptions around consumer products that may exist internationally.