Hi guys! What’s one thing you learned as a mom? One thing I’ve learned – every choice we make affects our families and the world they inherit. That’s why it’s important for us to be mindful of the small but significant decisions we make every day, including how we handle something as seemingly simple as flushing wipes. Picture this: you’re taking care of your littles, using baby wipes to clean up messes, and in the rush of the moment, you flush them down the toilet without a second thought. It’s convenient, right? But what if I told you that this innocent act could lead to costly plumbing repairs, damage to our local infrastructure, and harm to the environment we want our littles to grow up in? Wild right? Follow along today as I team up with RFA to talk insights, tips and the Importance of the Do Not Flush Symbol.
The RFA who?
The RFA stands for Responsible Flushing Alliance:. An organization that is dedicated to helping consumers understand the impact of their behaviors, even those driven by convenience. The RFA helps to provide all the necessary educational resources to make informed decisions about what should and should not be flushed, in hopes to change flushing habits and prevent unnecessary damage to our homes, infrastructure, and the environment.
The Importance of the Do Not Flush Symbol.
When you use baby wipes or other types of wipes, it’s vital to check for the Do Not Flush symbol on the packaging. This symbol serves as a clear indication that these wipes should not be disposed of in the toilet but instead be thrown in the trash. By following this simple guideline, we can avoid the not so awesome consequences mentioned above. Plus yucky things like sewage spills/overflows.
Flushing Non-Flushable Products is a no! No!
Research has shown that a huge chunk of wipes on the market today are non-flushable! A whopping 90%! Even with The Do Not Flush symbol clearly marked on the packaging of these wipes, unfortunately people are sadly still flushing wipes. With some of the top offenders being parents like me of younger littles. During a recent survey conducted by the RFA, 60% of individuals surveyed in California admitted to flushing something non-flushable in the past year. It also found that 26% believed baby wipes were flushable, 18% thought makeup wipes were flushable, and 17% mistakenly believed disinfectant wipes were flushable. When we flush non-flushable products, it’s like inviting trouble into our pipes. These items tend to combine with fats, oils, and grease (FOGs) to form stubborn blockages called fatbergs. These fatbergs wreak havoc on both our community’s wastewater pipes and our home plumbing. Here in California alone, the cost of repairing damages from flushing these items amounts to $47 million for consumers, municipalities, and utilities. I don’t know about you but I could think of much better ways to spend $47 million.
What are my 3 Top Tips?
1. Look for the “Do Not Flush” Symbol: When using wipes, always check the packaging for the “Do Not Flush” symbol. If you see it, remember to throw the wipes away instead of flushing them.
2. Educate Your Friends & Family: Teach your littles, friends, and other family members about what should and should not be flushed. Explain the importance of responsible flushing and the impact it has on our home’s plumbing system and the environment. By instilling these habits early on, you can help create a generation that values responsible waste disposal.
3. Purchase Flushable Wipes: Always do your research before buying. Buy flushable wipes that state they are okay to flush. Pay close attention to those with the “Do Not Flush” symbol.
Flushing smart is not only about avoiding inconveniences and costly repairs; it is about being responsible stewards of our homes, communities, and planet. So if you are potty training, have young children, or just want to do better by actively looking for the Do Not Flush symbol on wipes packaging, we can take a simple yet powerful step for future generations. Let us join in and commit to flushing smart, because every flush matters.
To learn more be sure to visit Flushsmart.org.
