MNHQ here: what do you think about manufacturers marketing wipes as 'flushable'?

[RowanMumsnet]

Hello

We've been contacted by a major utilities company asking Mumsnet to throw its weight behind a campaign it's running on the marketing of 'flushable' wet wipes and 'moist' toilet tissue.

The organisation that's contacted us says that 80% of all sewer blockages are the result of sewer misuse, and that 70% of these blockages are the result of wet wipes. They want manufacturers to stop being able to label wipes as being 'flushable'.

They are going to write to the Advertising Standards Authority complaining that consumers are being misled by the packaging and claims on many of these products. They say consumers are encouraged to believe that these products break down harmlessly when flushed - whereas in truth, they don't break down after flushing and can end up causing blocks, leaks and flooding.

We know from previous conversations about tampons and sanpro that MNers tend to be stalwart defenders of the public sewage system, so we said we'd ask you whether this was a campaign you'd like us to swing behind.

As ever, it would be great to hear what you think.

Thanks
MNHQ

[pinkandpurplesparkle]

They are nasty, drain-clogging items! They should not be 'branded' as 'flushable' because that implies that you can flush them with impunity... and really, you can't. They're not flushable and they won't biodegrade any time soon ... so where will they end up? Yuck!

[EcclefechanTart]

I fully support a campaign on not flushing anything other than loo roll down the loo.

[musicposy]

I'd support this. We were flushing our moist wipes and kept on and on getting toilet blockages. I read - probably on here - that they shouldn't be flushed and no problems since.

They really shouldn't say flushable when they aren't.

[coffeeisnectar]

Who on earth thinks you should flush a nappy? They are massive!!



We had the fallout of blocked drains when our garden was flooded SIX times in about 8 months with raw sewage from an overflow on the path behind our house. It was absolutely disgusting.

Can I also mention the toilet cleaning wipes which state they are flushable? We don't flush them but they are made of the same sort of stuff that baby wipes are made of and should clearly not be deemed flushable.

[PolkadotsAndMoonbeams]

Scottish Water is already running a good similar campaign - .

[Teladi]

This drives me bananas. I had a collapsed drain made about 100 times worse by my neighbour's 'flushable' wipes and as I'm the last house on that drain I had to deal with Scottish Water.

They're NOT FLUSHABLE and it shouldn't be allowed to be on the packaging!

[Goldrill]

Yes - definitely!

Am an aquatic ecologist - I have spent a lot of time trundling up and down rivers and river banks and am thoroughly fed up of seeing the stuff which comes out when CSOs spill. And WE ALL pay for it to be cleaned up, because it costs the water companies so much to clear it all from their plants, and messes up their treatment processes.

Please, please support it!

[DurhamDurham]

I think it's a great idea to raise the issue, I didn't even know until recently from taking part in a product test that you weren't even supposed to flush tampons. I don't flush anything except toilet roll now and I avoid 3 ply l, I just stick to cheap Aldi roll now.

[FrozenAteMyDaughter]

Yes, I was mortified when I realised I was responsible for blocking our drain (luckily just ours as far as I know). I have always been really careful what I put down the loo - always bin hair from our hairbrushes and definitely tampons etc. Normal wipes go in the bin but I just assumed flushable meant exactly that. I bet there are loads of people who have no idea they are causing a problem (never mind the hordes of people who don't care and put anything at all down the loo).

On a similar note, we need some sort of campaign about what sorts of fats can go down the sink without causing a blockage and also what sorts of liquids it is dangerous to flush or pour away. I bet loads of people are pouring away stuff they shouldn't.

[GeoffreysGoat]

Anyone who's accidentally washed a wipe knows they're not going to do the sewage pipes Andy good.

I think there's already an initiative by the nappy science gang to stop people flushing nappy liners?

[cozietoesie]

I agree entirely on the pouring away, Frozen. I'm just not sure about combining the issue with 'flushability'. Genuinely unsure so I'd welcome thoughts.

[puglife15]

Oh no I have been using these recently - it says breaks down when flushed on the pack?!

[StickTheDMWhereTheSunDontShine]

This is why it's aimed at parents
www.kandookids.com/kandoo-products/flushable-wipes/

Far from subtle marketing as "flushable". They're not the only ones, of course. Andrex and supermarket own moist arsewipes also claim to be flushable (though they're only ever called arsewipes on my shopping lists - never on the packet.)

[EveryoneElsie]

I've just realised we have a packet of bathroom wipes, and we assumed they can be flushed as well.

[gamerchick]

I support this. I suppose they technically get around it by saying its flushable, which it is. You could flush a lot of things but usually common sense kicks in. Nothing down the lav except bodily waste and toilet paper and even some posh toilet papers don't disintegrate that well.

[MagratsFlyawayHair]

Sainsbury's ones do say to only flush at most two at once and only on full flush. When you read that it's obvious they don't break up really and HAVE to stop somewhere. Never checked the pack before. Just the big word 'flushable' on the front!

[FrozenAteMyDaughter]

No cozietosie, probably not the same campaign. Just the drain blocking thing made me think of the whole fat build up issue when people pour melted butter etc down the sink.

Best focus on one thing at a time though.

[Thecatgotmytongue]

Yes, definitely should be stopped if they aren't flushable - I've certainly been misled by this, I presumed they WERE flushable.

[FrozenAteMyDaughter]

Just noticed the ASDA Little Angels wipes come with a Mumsnet seal of approval - not for drain friendliness I assume!

[Solasum]

We had a letter from our council saying this problem costs them £100k a year to sort out. That would be enough to keep the local children's centre open.

[cozietoesie]

It's the 'raising the whole issue of disposal' versus possible 'dilution of effect'. I'm inclined to your point of view, personally.

[MyKingdomForBrie]

I would definitely support this campaign. So many people think they can just drop the problem down the loo and away it goes - the proverbial sweeping under the carpet!

[Tanith]

Why are they targeting wet wipes? I don't know about you, but my baby wipes end up in the bin with the nappies - and I do a LOT of nappy changes every week!

There are other wipes that are more likely to end up in the toilet. The toilet cleaning wipes, the disinfectant wipes. No, I don't flush them, but I can imagine that many do.

[P1nkP0ppy]

I definitely support this. My neighbour's bl...y fed-up with having to fork out to get drains cleared of so-called 'flushable' wipes used by the neighbours further up the road. It's cost them £600 over the past two years and we've had sewerage across our lawn because they persist in using the blasted things and putting disposable nappies down the loo when their dgcs stay

These products are 'flushable' only until they reach a join in the pipes....under the drive 😡😡, and there's sweet fa we can do about it.

[Nairsmellsbad]

Please do support this - I can't believe that these products are allowed to be described as 'flushable'.