Flushable products could save sewer management companies millions
What's clogging up our sewerage systems?
Every day, clogged sewers and blocked drains gradually accumulate to cost local council sewerage providers around $1 million per year. This problem is only going to get worse as things like wet wipes, paper towels, tampons, and cat litter clog up sewage systems with no end in sight.
However, there is some light at the end of the tunnel. By mid-2022 products that can be flushed will carry an accredited 'flushable' logo which will let consumers know the product adheres to a national standard and will break down through the natural movement within the sewer system. That means there will be clear labelling indicating what products can be flushed. These items won't clog the sewage systems and will be able to be managed to cause minimal damage to the environment.
Dangers of flushing wet wipes
Wet wipes are the leading cause of blockages in sewer networks around the world. Even though the products are currently labelled as 'flushable', they really shouldn’t be flushed down the toilet. Wet wipes contain plastic that makes them durable and also makes them difficult to disintegrate. They can also affect the wastewater treatment processes and cause major issues to sewer infrastructure.
Many consumers are unaware of the problems caused by wet wipes and they inadvertently flush the wet wipes into their drains. This can cause massive blockages in their plumbing systems as well as the main sewerage network. With the new standard, consumers receive a clear indication of if a product can be flushed or not.
Every year 120 tonnes of wipes are removed from the local sewerage network according to Urban Utilities, QLD. The plastic clogging up our sewers costs southeast Queensland around $100 million per year to fix. Wet wipe labels inaccurately claiming these products can be flushed are only causing more problems for sewage systems across Australia.
The new label requires manufacturers who use the 'Flushable Product' logo must ensure their product complies with the draft standard, AS/NZS 5328 Flushable Products. This means that by mid-2022 you won't see any 'flushable' wet wipes on store shelves because they should never have been labelled as such anyway! If your household uses paper towels or tampons then don’t feel bad about continuing to use them because at least they are biodegradable, but please dispose of them in the rubbish bin.
But what about cat litter?
Most cat litters marketed as 'flushable' also contain clumping agents which can form large clumps in the sewerage system and cause even more damage and blockages. So, if you're a cat lover, it might be time to switch to an environmentally friendly litter that doesn't claim to be flushable and dispose of the used cat litter in the bin rather than down the toilet.
The good news is that by mid-2022, all products with the new 'flushable' label will help reduce the amount of money we spend on repairing clogged sewers - so remember to look for this logo next time you go shopping.
Until then only flush the 3Ps - pee, poo, and paper.
