How to dispose of your wipes safely
Not disposing of wet wipes in the correct way may have a detrimental impact on the sewage system, your home’s pipework and the planet. Many brands of baby wipes, cosmetic wipes and household cleaning wipes contain plastic - if flushed down the toilet they can pollute rivers and oceans.
In this guide, we look at how to dispose of biodegradable wipes as well as getting rid of wipes that are non-recyclable or non- biodegradable.
Disposing of wet wipes
The incorrect disposal of wet wipes is a worsening problem, and it is having a significant impact on the natural environment. When flushed down the toilet, wet wipes containing plastic, bunch together and trap waste that forms large blockages. These act as nets and catch all kinds of waste including hair, food remains, and paper. They don’t go away on their own and can be extremely costly to remove from the sewer system.
The only correct way of disposing of wet wipes once you have used them is to place them in a rubbish bin and to ensure you are using biodegradable wipes at all times. People often flush wet wipes either because they are unaware of the harm they cause, or because it is the most convenient method for them.
For parents, when teaching children how to wipe, remember to let them know that while toilet tissue and Baby Soft® Moist Toilet Tissue are safe to flush down the toilet, they need to place other wet wipes in the bin. Even older children might need a reminder about how bathroom habits can impact the environment.
How to dispose of biodegradable wipes in a safe manner
It is a common misconception that wet wipes marked as being biodegradable are safe to flush down the toilet. This is often due to confusion about what biodegradability is and how it is different from compostability.
When a material is biodegradable, it can be broken down into smaller components by microorganisms with the help of bacteria and fungi. There are several things that impact the degradation process including moisture, temperature, and time.
So, if biodegradable wipes can be broken down does this mean that they can be flushed down the toilet? The answer is actually no. The only correct way to dispose of biodegradable wipes is by putting them in a waste bin. Any wipes that contain fossil-based synthetic fibres can potentially release microfibres into the environment when they decompose.
This means that while there is less chance that biodegradable wipes will clog up pipes and sewage systems, they can still pollute waters and harm creatures living in marine or river environments.
Rather than being made with fossil-based synthetic fibres, wipes made with cellulosic fibres are made from wood, a renewable raw material. Wood based fibres can completely decompose in soil and are biodegradable in both fresh and salt water. These materials take around six weeks to degrade in fresh water and only four weeks in salt water, providing the temperature is warm enough.
How to dispose of Baby Soft® Moist Toilet Tissue
While wet wipes must go in the waste bin, all products in the Baby Soft® Moist Toilet Tissue range are safe to be flushed down the toilet. This lightly moist and flushable toilet tissue wipe is both safe and convenient for the whole family. It offers a fresh new standard of clean that is also soothing to your skin.
The Baby Soft® Moist Toilet Tissue range has been made with sustainability and environmental safety in mind. Baby Soft® Moist Toilet Tissues have been rigorously tested to ensure that they do not block pipes and sewer systems when used as intended, and their new range disperses even faster than the previous Baby Soft® Moist Toilet Tissue. It is also important to note that Baby Soft® Moist Toilet Tissues are flushable, biodegradable and 100% plastic-free. Baby Soft® Moist Toilet Tissues do not block toilets and are safe for the sewer systems.
As an ethical and responsible manufacturer of wet wipes, moist, and dry toilet tissue, it is our mission to ensure our products help reduce environmental impact.
