If “flushable wipes” aren’t really meant to be flushed, why are they allowed to advertise as such??

r/

They clog up pipes, and are more expensive. People in wastewater tell you not to flush them yet it’s on every product. “FLUSHABLE”

Comments

  1. treywarp Avatar

    “Able to be flushed” does not equal “Safe to be flushed”. They are physically able to be flushed down a toilet. Doesn’t mean it’s a good idea.

  2. NDaveT Avatar

    Nobody has lobbied Congress to make that particular detail a law.

  3. Docnevyn Avatar

    Because it’s not a regulated term. There’s no law or EPA regulation that says what does and doesn’t qualify as flushable.

  4. CalgaryChris77 Avatar

    Most marketing doesn’t have any legal threshold it needs to pass. Things like calorie/nutrition counts are mandated in many countries, and so that is a place where you need to follow within guidelines. But things like “flushable” aren’t something that gets vetted.

    Same with things like “Recyclable and Compostable” things may be theoretically recyclable. But not accepted by recycling facilities in most cities. Like a plastic drink lid.

  5. sailingdownstairs Avatar

    Moving just ahead of regulations is a thing, sadly.

  6. Rocinante82 Avatar

    Because it says “Flushable” with an “”, which is the indicator for more information on the claim, which is on the package. So it’s technically accurate.

  7. bangbangracer Avatar

    It’s not a regulated term and the ability to be flushed isn’t really a defined thing legally speaking.

  8. pamacdon Avatar

    Technically, you could put a label it says flushable on anything. Your cat, flushable. A pound of walnuts, flushable. IKEA sales person, flushable.

  9. Ashilleong Avatar

    Legal action in Australia didn’t go well.

  10. BigMrTea Avatar

    You can never count on corporations to do the right thing if money can be made. They say, “Just make it illegal then,” when confronted with their shitty behaviour, then complain about “job killing regulations.” Now we get companies knowingly breaking the law and simply building the penalty into the cost of doing business.

  11. DevolvingSpud Avatar

    Everything is flushable if you just believe

  12. High_Hunter3430 Avatar

    They flush just fine.

    They’ll clog your drain later down the line.
    But they clear the toilet so they flush.

  13. StragglingShadow Avatar

    Because under ideal conditions they are fine. Which means they’re allowed to say they’re fine.

  14. BenderFtMcSzechuan Avatar

    Because technically they are they will flush , but weather or not they can or can’t get stuck after the flush is not really stated and of course plumbers love them they get to charge you for them having to remove them.

  15. skyfishgoo Avatar

    anything is “flushable” if you’re brave enough.

  16. donttakerhisthewrong Avatar

    Who is going to say they are not

    In the real world the CyberTruck is more dangerous than a pinto

    It has a 5 star safety rating

    We are on own

  17. lifevicarious Avatar

    Conspiracy with big plumbing.

  18. Happy_Brilliant7827 Avatar

    There are current lawsuits about that.

  19. Shimata0711 Avatar

    >why are they allowed to advertise as such??

    FOR THE MONEY

  20. mothwhimsy Avatar

    They said you could flush them. They didn’t say they wouldn’t explode your septic tank

  21. xtramundane Avatar

    Because truth in advertising impinges on dividends. In fact any and all truth as far as I’ve experienced.

  22. gadget850 Avatar

    Chicken and baked potatoes are not advertised as flushable, but mom…

  23. aztechunter Avatar

    Government is slow to react. IMO, municipalities need to petition their state governments to get bans in at that level because federal will never happen.

  24. breadleecarter Avatar

    And why are boneless wings allowed to have bones?! Wtf is going ooooooon?!

  25. trance4ever Avatar

    Not all are created equal, Cottonelle flushable wipes are made with fibers that are 100% plant-sourced and start to break down immediately after flushing, so are other brands of wet toilet paper, put it in a bowl of water and let me know what happens.

  26. fishsticks40 Avatar

    For it to be illegal someone would have to define and regulate the term “flushable”.

    Which would be a good idea, but isn’t exactly the direction the current US federal regulatory state is headed at the moment.