Action against ‘flushable’ wipe manufacturers

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has launched legal action against the manufacturers of “flushable” wet wipes.

Two manufacturers face legal action on the grounds that labelling the wipes ‘flushable’ was misleading, as it suggested customers could safely flush them down the toilet.

ACCC chairman Rod Sims says the wipes do not disintegrate when flushed, and can clog sewers. Disposable wet wipes contribute to ‘fatbergs’ – giant clumps of detritus that congeal into sewer-blocking clogs.

Consumer group Choice gave ‘flushable’ wipes a Shonky award in 2015, which triggered the ACCC’s investigation.

The manufacturers are contesting the action saying that their wipes meet or exceed the requirements set out in widely accepted guidelines for assessing flushability.

Source: The Sydney Morning Herald