Pontiac Times

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The House of Representatives has passed H.R. 2964, known as the Wastewater Infrastructure Pollution Prevention and Environmental Safety (WIPPES) Act. Sponsored by Congresswoman Lisa McClain (R-MI), the bipartisan bill mandates that the Federal Trade Commission create a uniform label for products requiring a “Do Not Flush” designation.

“With thousands of products on the market, it is past time a standardized label for non-flushable products be created to alleviate confusion and protect our water systems,” said Rep. McClain. “Every year, millions of pounds of non-flushable products are sent into our sewer systems, leading to massive blockages that cost millions of dollars to remove. The WIPPES Act will help to provide much-needed consistency and clarity over which products consumers can flush and which ones need to be disposed of elsewhere.”

Rep. McClain introduced this bill alongside Rep. Peltola (AK), Sen. Merkley (OR), and Sen. Collins (ME).

“During the COVID pandemic, Anchorage wastewater workers reported pulling up to 6,000 pounds of wipes daily out of the sewer system," said Rep. Peltola. "To address this issue, I'm proud to be a leader on the WIPPES Act, a common-sense bill that would take a significant step towards reducing the amount of trash that ends up in our sewers, rivers, and oceans."

Senator Jeff Merkley also emphasized the environmental impact: “When wipes are improperly disposed of, Oregon’s wastewater facilities face costly repairs,” he said. “These wipes can also break down into harmful microplastics. By accurately labeling these products as ‘non-flushable,’ we can help keep our water clean.”

Senator Susan Collins highlighted consumer awareness: “Many consumers who use wet wipes are unaware that flushing these products creates significant problems for plumbing, wastewater treatment equipment, and septic systems,” she stated.

The bill aims to save taxpayers millions by preventing blockages in wastewater infrastructure caused by improper disposal of non-flushable items.