Water Sector News
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Oregon To Require ‘Do Not Flush’ Labels On Wipes
Disposable wipes sold in Oregon will soon have to come with a label that says “Do Not Flush.”
That’s the result of House Bill 2344, which was approved by state lawmakers and signed this week by Gov. Kate Brown. Wipes that aren’t meant to be flushed can clog up wastewater systems, leading to costly repairs. A number of municipalities in Oregon have reminded the public of this over the past year, especially during the early months of the pandemic when toilet paper was sometimes hard to find on store shelves.
Rep. Marty Wilde, D-Eugene, said even wipes labeled as “flushable” can cause problems. “Those wipes often contain longer wood fibers, or they contain plastics in them. And because of the length of those fibers, they can create clogs in the system," he said.
Wilde is one of the bill's chief sponsors.