• Login
    • Join
  • Subscribe Free
    • Magazine
    • eNewsletter
    Checkout
    • Magazine
    • News
    • Exclusives
    • Applications
    • Technology
    • Market
    • Other
    • Top 40
    • Buyers Guide
    • Hygiene Directory
    • More
  • Magazine
  • News
  • Exclusives
  • Applications
  • Technology
  • Market
  • Other
  • Top 40
  • Buyers Guide
  • Hygiene Directory
  • Current / Back Issues
    Features
    Editorial
    Columns
    Digital Edition
    Southeast Asia Edition
    eNewsletter Archive
    Editorial Guidelines
    Subscribe Now
    Advertise Now
    eBook
    Top Features
    Fibers Report

    Household Wipes Market

    Sustainable Hygiene Products Gain Ground

    Moist Toilet Wipes Lead 2024 Growth, Baby Wipes Decline, and General-Purpose Wipes Bounce Back

    Dissolvable Wipes. Will They Be the Industry’s Next Big Thing?
    Company Cameo
    Financial News
    Machinery Equipment
    New Products
    Nonwovens News
    Patent Review
    People in the News
    Supplier News
    Top News
    Live From Shows
    Top News
    Royal Premium Diapers Supports Diaper Bank

    RedDrop Rebrands as Scarlet

    P&G Reports Q4, Fiscal Year 2025 Results

    2XL Launches Force No Rinse Food Service Disinfecting Wipes

    Procter & Gamble Names New CEO
    Nonwovens Insights
    Online Exclusives
    Adult Incontinence
    Absorbent Core
    Antimicrobials
    Apparel
    Automotive and Transportation
    Face Masks
    Chemicals / Adhesives
    Construction
    Contract Services
    Diaper, Baby
    Electronics
    Feminine Hygiene
    Fibers
    Filtration
    Flame Retardance
    Geotextile / Agrotextile
    Home Products
    Hygiene Film/Components
    Industrial / Institutional
    Inspection / Quality Control
    Machinery and Equipment
    Medical
    Wipes

    Royal Premium Diapers Supports Diaper Bank

    RedDrop Rebrands as Scarlet

    2XL Launches Force No Rinse Food Service Disinfecting Wipes

    General Nonwovens to Install A.Celli E-Wind Machinery

    Freudenberg Shows Evolon Packaging Solutions
    Air Through Bonding
    Airlaid
    Carded/Carding
    Chemical Bonded
    Composite
    Meltblown
    Needlepunch
    Nanotechnology
    Spunbond
    Spunbond/Spunmelt
    Spunlace
    Thermal Bonded
    Wetlaid

    Sandler Acquires Stake in Wetlaid Producer

    Alma Installs Needling Line

    SGN Offers Next Generation Nonwoven Material

    Softbond, A.Celli Collaborate on Spunbond Line

    Freudenberg to Showcase Advanced Foam Replacement at FOAM Expo
    China
    Eastern Europe/Russia
    India
    Middle East/North Africa
    North America
    Pacific Rim
    South/Central America
    Turkey
    Western Europe

    Premier Care Industries Expands Manufacturing Operations

    A Look At Megasoft—Asia's Vertically Integrated Hygiene Producer

    CIDPEX Middle East to be Held in September

    Pelsan Tekstil to Add Films Production in North Carolina

    Citadel J – From Round Wipes Roll to Revenue
    Associations
    Contracts / Awards
    Education
    Facilities / Capacity
    Green / Sustainability
    Legal / Regulatory
    Market Data
    Flushability
    Mergers and Acquisitions
    Product Improvement / Innovation
    R&D/Basic Research
    Shows / Events

    Sandler Acquires Stake in Wetlaid Producer

    EDANA Urges Policy Makers to Protect Fluff Pulp from Tariffs

    General Nonwovens to Install A.Celli E-Wind Machinery

    Vivos Holdings, Nice-Pak to Combine Operations

    Alma Installs Needling Line
    Chart
    Companies
    All Companies
    Categories
    Company Profiles
    Add New Company
    International Buyers Guide Companies
    Valco Melton

    Herrmann Ultrasonics, Inc.

    Alliance Machine and Engraving

    ELSNER

    Dukane Center of Excellence for Personal Care, Nonwovens and Packaging
    Brands
    Brand Owners
    • Magazine
      • Current / Back Issues
      • Features
      • Editorial
      • Columns
      • Digital Edition
      • Southeast Asia Edition
      • eNewsletter Archive
      • Editorial Guidelines
      • Subscribe Now
      • Advertise Now
    • Breaking News
    • Buyers Guide
      • All Companies
      • Categories
      • Company Profiles
      • Add Your Company
    • Applications
      • Absorbent Core
      • Adult Incontinence
      • Antimicrobials
      • Apparel
      • Automotive and Transportation
      • Chemicals / Adhesives
      • Construction
      • Contract Services
      • Diaper, Baby
      • Electronics
      • Feminine Hygiene
      • Fibers
      • Filtration
      • Flame Retardance
      • Geotextile / Agrotextile
      • Home Products
      • Hygiene Film/Components
      • Industrial / Institutional
      • Inspection / Quality Control
      • Machinery and Equipment
      • Medical
      • Wipes
      • Face Masks
    • Technology
      • Air Through Bonding
      • Airlaid
      • Carded/Carding
      • Chemical Bonded
      • Composite
      • Meltblown
      • Needlepunch
      • Nanotechnology
      • Spunbond
      • Spunlace
      • Thermal Bonded
      • Wetlaid
      • Spunbond/Spunmelt
    • Market
      • China
      • Eastern Europe/Russia
      • India
      • Middle East/North Africa
      • North America
      • Pacific Rim
      • South/Central America
      • Turkey
      • Western Europe
    • Other
      • Associations
      • Contracts / Awards
      • Education
      • Facilities / Capacity
      • Green / Sustainability
      • Legal / Regulatory
      • Market Data
      • Mergers and Acquisitions
      • Product Improvement / Innovation
      • R&D/Basic Research
      • Shows / Events
      • Flushability
    • Top 40 Companies
      • Chart
      • Companies
    • Online Exclusives
    • Slideshows
    • Hygiene Directory
      • Brands
      • Brand Owners
    • Experts Opinions
    • Videos
    • Podcasts
    • Infographics
    • eBook
    • Whitepapers
    • Events
      • Industry Events
      • Live From Show Events
      • Webinars
      • Live From Asian Connections
    • Jobs
    • Resources
      • Suppliers Gallery
      • Literature Showcase
      • Web Showcase
      • Home Page Showcase
    • About Us
      • About Us
      • Contact Us
      • Advertise With Us
      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms of Use
    Features

    Letter to the Editor: Consumer Knowledge is Key to Solving the Flushability Issue

    Associations urge wipes manufacturers to educate their consumers of what is safe to flush

    06.28.23

    To the editor,

    The Responsible Flushing Alliance (RFA) recently published an opinion piece re-emphasizing the importance of California’s Wet Wipes Labeling Law, AB 818, which our organizations jointly sponsored and negotiated with industry representatives. The law binds wipes manufacturers to adding a “Do Not Flush” symbol on packaging for non-flushable wipes. The bill also requires a consumer education campaign, led by wipes manufacturers, to promote adherence to the “Do Not Flush” symbol when it comes to their products. In her op-ed, RFA President Lara Wyss cited a 2022 survey in which respondents showed a low understanding of proper flushing habits and pledged to step-up RFA’s own education programs in 2023 to increase consumer awareness of the symbol and what not to flush. 

    RFA’s assessment hints at a larger issue: Too many consumers are still flushing non-flushable wipes, a problem for which wastewater operators are keenly aware. This knowledge gap could easily be closed by the wipes industry itself. All wipes manufacturers should join RFA in their consumer education efforts, formally acknowledging this improper disposal of their own products and actively working to influence a decrease in harmful fatbergs and clogs. In fact, AB 818 (Bloom) of 2021 requires their participation in these efforts. Simply complying with the labeling of non-flushable wipes is not enough to guide consumers and deter improper flushing of non-flushable wipes. 

    As the data collected by RFA suggests, there is still a long way to go in educating consumers about the dangers of improper flushing. However, RFA’s efforts to provide better and more comprehensive information have already helped turn the tide toward a more aware and knowledgeable base. To prevent a lapse in this progress, the entire industry must be involved and bring their considerable resources to bear on this effort. Working with local agencies, product manufacturers are in the best position to help educate consumers and ultimately reduce the impact of wipes on critical public infrastructure. Don’t squander this opportunity: Stand with RFA to educate California along with other leaders in your industry. 

     

    Heidi Sanborn, executive director, National Stewardship Action Council

    Adam Link, executive director, California Association of Sanitation Agencies

      Loading, Please Wait..
      Breaking News
      • Development District Forms Around K-C Expansion Plan
      • Royal Premium Diapers Supports Diaper Bank
      • RedDrop Rebrands as Scarlet
      • P&G Reports Q4, Fiscal Year 2025 Results
      • 2XL Launches Force No Rinse Food Service Disinfecting Wipes
      View Breaking News >
      CURRENT ISSUE

      July 2025

      • The 56th Annual International Buyers’ Guide
      • View More >