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

I agree with the campaign, the drains/sewers in our street have been blocked twice now due to someone putting baby wipes down the toilet.
The first time (in heavy rain), literally forced the manhole cover off and all sorts came bubbling out.
The water company said it was a mix of wipes and fat that caused it.

I agree with this campaign 1000%

[channels Robert Downey Jr in Soapdish]
[channels being very old and using cultural references nobody else has ever heard of]

Companies aren't allowed to label their cardboard packets as 'edible' even though you can in theory eat them. At least, are they? anyway, after a few people had to have bowel operations becuse they were bunged up with cardboard, there would be a bit of an outcry. Just because in theory you can force a wipe down your own toilet with 10 gallons of drinking quality water doesn't mean you should.

Perhaps Roald Dahl gave people the wrong ideas about flushability:

At once, one of the ugly sisters
(the one whose face was blotched with blisters)
sneaked up and grabbed the dainty shoe
and quickly flushed it down the loo.

(And used the word "slut" for good measure.)

God yes. It seems like every week there's a thread saying 'AIBU to not know you aren't supposed to flush wipes/tampons?!'

Followed by 'what?!?! I've been flushing my tampons for centuries, it's what they're made for!'

It really does boggle the mind that people still don't know.

correctly functioning toilets in the UK will accept the following without risk of blockage, whether connected to a septic tank or a drain.

1. body waste
2. small quantities of toilet paper.

that's it. Nothing else.

Yes, wipes do need to go in a covered bin. Same as the rest of the world does it with toilet paper (where used).

A family friend fell foul of the Kandoo flushable toddler wipes. Cost them a fortune to get it sorted. They shouldn't be labelled as flushable. Back the campaign please Mn.

Yes, absolutely think it's worth backing the campaign. There's a huge amount of ignorance around the issue, as evidenced by threads on here.

People trust labels.

Their head may tell them they shouldn't but the hand is reaching out to it nonetheless. (And manufacturers will take full advantage of every chink to sell their product.)

We had a sewage pipe blockage which was caused pretty much entirely by 'flushable' (Andrex) wipes (at the time one toilet training 3 year old and a 5 year old with a fear of bottom wiping and an over enthusiastic use of the flushable wipes. TMI but the plumber had to lift our outside sewer access and physically remove a plug of the stuff with assorted sewage attached. I have photo evidence if you like but it's too mortifying as there is a clear perfect poo in the foreground. We literally had no idea that these didn't flush and dissolve like normal toilet paper, and we now have bins next to each loo for this purpose. But WTF to call them flushable if they don't break down properly? That's like saying nappies are flushable if you can get them through the u-bend. Good luck mumsnet, good cause.

Good idea.

Well what would the word 'flushable' mean to most people? I'd guess 'you can use this with impunity' wouldn't be too far from the reality.

I doubt that that's the legal definition though.

Calling something flushable implies it's safe to flush into the sewer system. Agree the term should not be used.

I'd buy that understanding, Jeopardy. It's usually wrong as you implied, of course.

I back this completely. In the past i had the misfortune of my garden being flooded with raw sewage, turns out it was loads of wet wipes, tampons, nappies and a tea towel causing the blockage

I didn't realise they don't break down either. We usually have them because the children like using them, but I won't be buying any more.

I think it's criminal that they are marketed as flushable so that people think it's just like a bit of loo paper. I use moist loo paper and bin it, rather than flushing it, since I heard that the sewers can't cope with it. I think most people don't realise this.

Well done, Thora.

How shall you be explaining the change to the DCs?

For those that complain that it's our sewerage system that's at fault for not pandering to our disposable lifestyle coping with non-degradable products being flushed down the loo : don't ever go to Greece. There you can't even put loo paper down the loo!

I have to confess I flushed a terry nappy once ...rinsing the poo off in the flush and it slipped out of my hand ... was panic stricken waiting for a blockage for weeks but apparently it was ok...
I think we need to move away from all disposable wipes full stop with their extra plastic packaging and manufacturing costs - and even not flushed they are going to end up in landfill. So I would support a campaign especially as I suspect it would reduce usage.
Our sewage used to be piped out to the sea not treated and I used to go to local beaches/bays that caught certain tides and were strewn with the plastic backing from sanitary towels etc - not many wipes as they weren't so popular at the time - (condoms too...another thing that gets flushed that shouldn't be) - if you had seen that you would be really careful about what you flushed - it really was disgusting. Now it is treated we don't get that any more but I can imagine what the treatment plant are dealing with.
I also wouldn't use the super thick luxury loo roll either.
DP had a restaurant in a building with ancient pipework and after the first few months we got a blockage. We thought it was just maybe a build up over time, had them jetted only to get another a few months later so they put a camera down and discovered that it was just loo roll. We downgraded paper - not to value just less luxurious...

Yes please. After a talk by a SevernTrent (local water company) speaker to our library group I've been telling all and sundry NOT to flush wipes (or tissues or fat). It is so misleading to put 'Flushable' on the packets of wipes. The speaker spelt it out that it meant the wipes had been flushed successfully down an old style high cistern with chain lavatory.
The sooner the manufacturers stop this iniquitous behaviour the better.

Yes please. Great idea.

Thought there had been court cases in the US about this.

I've been struck by how many people posting here simply had no idea about the issues. That strikes me as an ideal situation for a campaign by Mumsnet. Inform members properly and let them make their own choices on the basis of better information?

Just paid £200 for our pumping station to be fixed after a guest used baby wipes/'washable' wet wipe things whilst here.

I guess you'll be strongly advising future guests about the non-use of wipes then?

We've twice called out dynorod after our drain backed up. Both times the chap blamed "baby wipes" - the first time, neighbours both sides of us had babies so we were cursing them. The second time, the penny dropped that H was flushing the Andrex wet wipes he insists on using.

Wipes of any type should not be flushed. Packaging should be changed to make this clear, and adverts too.