How The Industry Can Take On Wipes In The Waste Stream – And Win: Part 2

This is the second installment of a three-part series examining wipes in the waste stream. The first installment looked specifically at the growth of disposable wipes usage within the last decade. Now we’ll look at the public outreach campaigns and some of the ways pump manufacturers are adjusting their technology to try to reduce or prevent wipes-related clogging.   

As discussed in the first installment, the popularity of bathroom wipes has skyrocketed over the last decade, and that trend is expected to continue in years to come. Since many of these products are labeled “flushable”, most consumers give little thought to disposing wipes of any kind down the toilet regardless of the labeling. This common practice has led to numerous problems at pump stations and resource recovery facilities, from equipment damage to unscheduled maintenance and lost revenue. Operators are forced to spend hours unclogging and rebuilding pumps that have broken down, only to have this problem repeat itself in a few weeks or even days.