Flushable wipes have become increasingly popular in recent years as a convenient way to clean up after using the bathroom. However, there are several important reasons why flushable wipes should be avoided.
What are flushable wipes?
Flushable wipes are moist toilet paper-like products that are marketed as being safe to flush down the toilet. They are usually pre-moistened with a solution and come individually wrapped for portability and ease of use. Flushable wipes are commonly used for:
- Cleaning after using the bathroom
- Freshening up when a full shower isn’t possible
- Cleaning babies during diaper changes
- Removing makeup
- Disinfecting surfaces
While flushable wipes are convenient, there are several key problems with using them.
They don’t break down like toilet paper
The main issue with flushable wipes is that they do not disintegrate and breakdown in water like regular toilet paper. Toilet paper is specially designed to quickly break apart when flushed, whereas flushable wipes contain fibers that are not designed to degrade rapidly in water.
This means that while you can flush them, they do not dissolve like toilet paper. The wipes remain intact as they travel through pipes and sewer systems. Over time, they accumulate with fats, oils, grease and other materials that have been flushed, causing clogged pipes, sewer backups, and equipment failures.
Evidence of problems caused
There is extensive evidence documenting the problems caused by flushing wipes:
- A 2015 survey by the National Association of Clean Water Agencies found that over 75% of sewer blockages involved flushable wipes.
- The New York Times reported in 2015 that flushable wipes were costing New York City over $18 million per year to clear clogged pipes and equipment.
- In the UK, over $130 million is spent annually to address flushable wipe related blockages.
- Officials in Wyoming reported thousands of dollars in plumbing repairs at parks caused by flushed wipes.
Wastewater agencies continually report major headaches from flushable wipes clogging up infrastructure never designed to handle products that do not disintegrate rapidly.
They contain plastic fibers
Flushable wipes are not actually flushable in the same sense as toilet paper. While the packaging says flushable, the wipes contain strong plastic fibers that do not break down:
- The fibers are often made of polyester, polyethylene, and polypropylene – all plastics.
- These materials are chosen because they provide durability when wet.
- But this durability means they do not disintegrate and can tangle into large masses.
Having plastic fibers flushed into sewer systems and waterways is extremely problematic. The plastic accumulates over time and does not biodegrade naturally. Ultimately, a significant amount of plastic ends up in oceans, rivers, and lands.
Plastic accumulation data
Studies have quantified the scale of plastic fibers being flushed into the environment:
- Research in the UK estimated over 11 billion wet wipes are flushed per year containing over 3000 tons of plastic.
- In the Los Angeles area, researchers found a significant accumulation of flushable wipe plastics in wastewater solids.
- Up to 80% of debris found blocking sewer systems contains flushable wipes.
This plastic pollution is extremely detrimental to marine life, wildlife, and ecosystems. The durability of the plastics means it can take centuries to break down naturally.
They contain other problematic ingredients
In addition to plastic fibers, flushable wipes often contain other ingredients that can harm septic systems and the environment:
- Cleaning agents – chemicals like quaternium-15, benzalkonium chloride can damage bacteria cultures used in wastewater treatment plants and septic systems.
- Fragrances – many wipes contain artificial fragrances that are not removed in treatment and exposed to aquatic life.
- Preservatives – parabens and triclosan are added as preservatives but are toxic to aquatic organisms at low levels.
While one wipe may contain only small amounts, huge volumes of wipes are flushed, allowing problematic chemicals to accumulate over time in wastewater systems.
Studies on ingredient toxicity
Scientists have published several studies showing the harmful effects of flushable wipe ingredients:
- A 2015 study found exposing wastewater bacteria to flushable wipe concentrations as low as 2.5% inhibited methane production by over 30%.
- Triclosan exposure at levels found in wastewater has been shown to be deadly to some algae species.
- Tests of activated sludge bacteria showed impairments to ammonia removal at flushable wipe ingredient concentrations commonly found in wastewater.
The variety of synthetic and toxic ingredients are exceedingly difficult to remove with conventional wastewater treatment. As a result, they are discharged and accumulate in the environment.
They clog septic systems
Flushable wipes are especially problematic for homes and businesses using septic systems for onsite wastewater treatment. There are a few key reasons they can severely clog and damage septic systems:
- Septic tanks provide only primary treatment through settlement and flotation. They lack the mechanisms in wastewater plants to capture non-disintegrating wipes.
- The plastic fibers interweave to form dense masses that cannot pass through inlet and outlet tees or effluent screens.
- Wipes can wrap around and jam pump impellers if the system uses pumps for effluent distribution.
- Ingredients like cleaning agents can kill the bacteria responsible for breaking down waste in the septic tank.
Many septic system service providers strictly advise customers to never flush wipes or dispose of them into the system to prevent catastrophic failure requiring expensive repairs.
Septic system damage examples
There are many examples of flushable wipes causing major septic issues:
- A homeowner in Massachusetts had a $10,000 repair bill after flushable wipes clogged his septic system.
- Officials in Minnesota reported agrowing number of septic backups caused by flushable wipes.
- Tests by theWater Environment Federation found that flushable wipes took over 200 days to break down in a septic tank while toilet paper took only a few days.
Simply put, there is no such thing as a truly flushable wipe that will not eventually clog and potentially ruin a septic system.
They are not necessary
Finally, it is important to note that flushable wipes are not an essential product for most purposes. While they provide convenience, there are other options that are safer for plumbing and the environment:
- Regular toilet paper dissolves rapidly and is specifically designed to be flushed.
- For cleaning babies, reusable cloth wipes avoid generating more trash.
- Disinfecting surfaces is possible with reusable microfiber cloths and green cleaning solutions.
- Facial cleansing pads made of bamboo fibers are compostable unlike plastic-based wipes.
Some personal care and cleaning tasks may take a bit more time and effort without flushable wipes, but the benefit of preventing plumbing and environmental damage outweighs the convenience.
Biodegradable wipe concerns
Some “biodegradable” wipes are now being marketed as eco-friendly options. However, these have similar issues when flushed:
- They still do not disintegrate as rapidly as toilet paper.
- Fibers can be made of materials like rayon that take months to start breaking down.
- Performance relies on specific biodegradation conditions not guaranteed as the wipes travel through sewers.
“Biodegradable” labeling gives a misleading impression of safety. Unless a wipe breaks down as fast as toilet paper, flushing should still be avoided.
Conclusion
In summary, flushable wipes seem like convenient bathroom and cleaning aids, but in reality cause extensive problems for home plumbing, municipal sewer systems, and the environment. As they do not dissolve rapidly, the wipes cause massive clogs and accumulate non-biodegradable plastic fibers over time. The variety of chemical ingredients are also difficult to remove via treatment and expose aquatic life. Finally, flushable wipes are unnecessary for most cleaning tasks. While they offer convenience, reusable and compostable options are better choices to prevent damage.