The strongest wet wipe labeling requirements in the country have just been passed. Governor Newsom signed Assembly Bill 818 into law this week, requiring all packaging for diaper wipes, cleaning wipes, and cosmetic wipes to display clear “Do Not Flush” warnings.

The bill is the result of a three-year effort between representatives from wastewater and product stewardship groups and wipes manufacturers to address an urgent pollution problem that has plagued public wastewater infrastructure. The California Association for Sanitation Agencies (CASA) sponsored bill will go into effect in July 2022.  When the law is enacted, all wet wipes packages will be required to include a “Do Not Flush” symbol (check it out below!) and warning on each individual package.

This is great news for OC San as the wastewater sector has had to regularly encounter and remove wipes and other trash from our systems because of improper disposal. Despite voluntary industry labeling guidelines, proper disposal information is inconsistent on wipes product labels, and some wipes are advertised as “flushable,” which can lead to confusion about what products can be flushed down the toilet and which are instead intended for the trashcan. Unlike toilet paper, wipes don’t break down in water. They remain largely intact as they pass through sewer pipes, causing costly clogs, overflows, and equipment malfunctions. One recent national study estimates that California agencies spend around $50 million annually to remove wipes from the sewers. And that doesn’t account for expenses incurred by homeowners that have had to deal with wipes related plumbing issues.

The bill will help keep our pipes and oceans cleaner, and also require that manufacturers of wipes products conduct mandatory education and outreach to California consumers about the meaning of the Do Not Flush symbol and warning, and about the adverse impacts of improperly flushing these products.

This bill only reinforces OC San’s mission of protecting public health and the environment. Make sure to look for items labeled “do not flush” beginning July 2022. In the meantime, please continue to only flush the 3Ps – pee, poop and (toilet) paper.