A public awareness campaign sponsored by INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, and the Maine Wastewater Control Association (MWWCA) to educate consumers to not flush baby wipes down the toilet has been nominated for a 2014 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Environmental Merit Award. 

 

The EPA Environmental Merit Award honors those organizations that make outstanding contributions to improving a region’s environment. The criteria include defining the environmental problem, addressing the problem, accomplishing the stated goals, measuring the benefits to the environment or public health and collaborating with other organizations. Maine Commissioner Patricia W. Aho nominated the “Save Your Pipes: Don’t Flush Baby Wipes” campaign for the New England regional award.

 

Dave Rousse, INDA President, said, “This nomination for the 2014 EPA Environmental Merit Award is an honor and great recognition of a collaborative effort between the wipes industry members of INDA and the Maine Wastewater Control Association.” Rousse continued, “Many products are flushed down the toilet that shouldn’t be including feminine hygiene products, paper towels and non-flushable wipes like surface cleaning wipes. 

 

Concern by wastewater entities about the inappropriate disposal of these items has engulfed those nonwoven wipe products that are designed to be flushed and pass our Flushability Assessment Guidelines. Our stewardship role on this issue is focused on building awareness of these two separate categories and the different proper disposal paths for each.”

 

The campaign is called, “Save Your Pipes: Don’t Flush Baby Wipes,” and features various forms of media including television commercials, print ads in newspapers, social media pushes and direct mail pieces. 

 

The goal of the campaign is to reduce the costly burden that Maine wastewater treatment facilities are experiencing due to items being flushed down the toilet that were never designed to be flushed.

 

The recipients of the 2014 EPA Environmental Merit Award will be announced at a ceremony to be held in mid to late April in Boston, Massachusetts at the historic Faneuil Hall.

 

About INDA

INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, serves hundreds of member companies in the nonwovens/engineered fabrics industry doing business globally. Since 1968, INDA events have helped members connect, learn, innovate and develop their businesses. INDA educational courses, market data, test methods, consultancy and issue advocacy help members succeed by providing them the information they need to better plan and execute their business strategies.