Stories
Slash Boxes
Comments

SoylentNews is people

posted by martyb on Thursday April 11 2019, @05:38AM   Printer-friendly
from the no-corny-wise-crack-here dept.

In a report based on testing of 101 single-use wipes, 23 of which were labeled as 'flushable', not a single wipe successfully dispersed or fell apart in the sewer system test.

Testing was performed by the Ryerson's Flushability Lab.

Products which fail the test can clog or degrade household pipes and city sewer systems.

"This research confirms conclusively what those of us in the industry already knew. That single-use wipes, including cleansing and diaper wipes, cannot be safely flushed, even those labelled as 'flushable,'" said report lead Barry Orr, masters student in Environmental Applied Science and Management, and a 25-year veteran Sewer Outreach and Control Inspector with the City of London in Ontario, Canada.

Testing on each wipe was performed by simulating a typical residence's plumbing from toilet to sewer including typical bends and slope, water pressure, and urban infrastructure.

the Municipal Enforcement Sewer Use Group has estimated that $250 million is spent annually across Canada for operations and maintenance related to the removal of blockages from equipment, due to the flushing of wipes and other non-flushable materials. Many of these wipes also contain synthetic fibres, including plastics, which can make their way into waterways, harming water systems and wildlife.

Orr called for a standard legislated industry-wide definition for the term 'flushable' so that consumers could be informed and make appropriate decisions for their health and to avoid various harms being caused by the term's misleading use today.


Original Submission

 
This discussion has been archived. No new comments can be posted.
Display Options Threshold/Breakthrough Mark All as Read Mark All as Unread
The Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way.
  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday April 11 2019, @10:43AM (8 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Thursday April 11 2019, @10:43AM (#827833)

    I went to the article, which pointed to the study, and read the appendix of the study where they list what they tested.

    Only toilet paper passed their "flushable" test.

    Baby wipes didn't pass. That makes sense. Supposedly flushable wipes didn't pass - none of them. Interesting. Facial tissue -- Kleenex -- didn't pass either. What???

    If facial tissue doesn't pass their test, it doesn't make me look at facial tissue in a new way, it makes me highly doubt their test correlates to anything in the real world.

  • (Score: 1) by jjr on Thursday April 11 2019, @12:26PM

    by jjr (6969) on Thursday April 11 2019, @12:26PM (#827864)

    Probably kleenex have the cellulose fibers more tightly packed and this causes not to "self-destroy" while in water. You can tear easily toilet paper with your fingers, without much effort, while a facial tissue nap, even all unfolded, takes a bit more of strength. Still curiously that they get that resistant while soaked. Surely kitchen paper (haven't read the full article) doesn't pass the test either, since it's designed to absorb liquids and remain in one piece.

  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday April 11 2019, @12:28PM (4 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Thursday April 11 2019, @12:28PM (#827865)

    Toilet paper is designed to very quickly fall apart when wet. Other tissues and paper will not. Yes, eventually it will but if it doesn't do it quickly it has potential to create a clog. Flushable wipes are not flushable.

    If it's not human waste or actual toilet paper do not flush it. Also, try to throw away or compost food debris rather than run it down a drain or use a food diposal, and never ever pour grease down the drain.

    • (Score: 2) by DannyB on Thursday April 11 2019, @02:41PM (3 children)

      by DannyB (5839) Subscriber Badge on Thursday April 11 2019, @02:41PM (#827958) Journal

      Toilet paper is designed to very quickly fall apart when wet.

      Bzzzzt.

      You obviously have not been a victim of the US Public Education system. In public schools, toilet paper is waxed. Making it almost completely unsuitable for its intended porpoise.

      --
      People today are educated enough to repeat what they are taught but not to question what they are taught.
      • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday April 11 2019, @03:05PM (1 child)

        by Anonymous Coward on Thursday April 11 2019, @03:05PM (#827990)

        What state were you in? In my upstate NY schools the tp was "normal", same as we bought at home except very thin and cheap. This was '60s and early '70s.

        Now, in England, I've seen waxed tp, very slippery. The type I saw was on an oval roll and was perforated/partially split into sheets after the roll was wound, so the first pieces off the roll were longer than the last pieces.

        • (Score: 2) by DannyB on Thursday April 11 2019, @03:10PM

          by DannyB (5839) Subscriber Badge on Thursday April 11 2019, @03:10PM (#827994) Journal

          At the time, it was in the North Western part of KS.

          --
          People today are educated enough to repeat what they are taught but not to question what they are taught.
      • (Score: 2) by FatPhil on Thursday April 11 2019, @10:17PM

        by FatPhil (863) <pc-soylentNO@SPAMasdf.fi> on Thursday April 11 2019, @10:17PM (#828318) Homepage
        London calling, 70s and 80s - roger waxing. 8-o
        --
        Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people; the smallest discuss themselves
  • (Score: 3, Informative) by ledow on Thursday April 11 2019, @12:51PM

    by ledow (5567) on Thursday April 11 2019, @12:51PM (#827880) Homepage

    To be classed as toilet paper, it had to dissolve a certain way, in a certain amount of time, in a certain amount of water.

    That the tissues you blow you nose on are not only different, but not advertised as toilet paper, tells you that they are not toilet paper.

    https://www.water.org.uk/publication/flushable-products/ [water.org.uk]

    These things are very different. "Flushable" implies that the drainage companies approve. They do not. They *ALL* say they do not. They say that you should NOT be flushing these "flushable" things, or anything else except toilet paper (which has a particular definition).

    I don't know if you've ever picked up a man-size Kleenex with balm, "cushions", etc. but it's an entirely different beast to even the most luxurious toilet paper.

    That's exactly what they are complaining about - people who think "Oh, it's just a tissue". It's not.

    Don't even get me started on people who put their hair down the toilet "so it doesn't clog the sink"...

  • (Score: 2) by Hyperturtle on Thursday April 11 2019, @02:17PM

    by Hyperturtle (2824) on Thursday April 11 2019, @02:17PM (#827945)

    Are you serious?

    Tissues never have been flushable, never. If they were, they'd tear apart on your bristly face. They're like softer paper towels, which also are not flushable.

    The closest might be generic cheapo stuff parents buy for the kids to bring to school (if it's not a contest to show off income) or a brand called "Scott's" tissues--which no one wants to use because they are not soft--but they're only close to flushable because they are single ply and do "less harm".

    Scotts toliet paper, however is The Best to use in toliets and septic systems. (But if you are part of the skeptic system, you won't believe me that tissues arent flushable anyway...)

    (to be clear, while I would approve use of the Scott's toliet paper due to it being the least clog causing stuff one can flush, I am not allowed to buy Scott's anything... due to a revolt of the females I know refusing to have that product go anywhere near their delicate feminine parts. They enforce their rules in mysterious ways. But if you live in a man cave and break out the special toliet paper on occasion for guests, then by all means...)