HB 2565, requiring wipe manufacturers to label their nonflushable disposable wipe products, passed the House and Senate and awaits Governor Inslee’s signature.

This bill seeks to address consumer behavior of flushing nonflushable wipes by adding a nonflushable label to packages and creating penalties for manufacturers that are not in compliance with the legislation. Cities and counties have concurrent authority to enforce the labeling requirements and collect civil penalties for a violation of the requirements. An enforcing government entity may impose a penalty:

• Up to $2,000 for the first violation;
• Up to $5,000 for the second; and
• Up to $10,000 for any subsequent violations.

Nonflushable wipes can cause expensive and large clogs in sewer and wastewater systems. When these wipe clogs mix together with other grease and debris, they require frequent maintenance to remove from sewer and wastewater facilities. Municipal utilities, especially small municipal utilities, struggle to both keep utility rates affordable for users, and respond to the growing number of wipe-related clogs in the systems.