First truly ‘fine to flush’ wet wipes that break down in sewer systems costing £1.99 will go on sale next month to tackle ‘fatbergs’ clogging drain pipes around the world
- UK organic care brand Natracare are the first to carry the ‘fine to flush’ symbol
- They claim to be the first ‘truly flushable’ tissue wipe after passing strict tests
- Most products label products ‘flushable’ do not break down in the sewer system
- Water UK says that tests done on these products are not as rigorous as theirs
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‘Fine to flush’ wet wipes will hit UK stores for the first time next month after being given official certification for passing strict sewer tests.
Organic health and beauty brand Natracare are the first to carry the symbol and claim that the moist tissue wipes, which cost £1.99, will fully break down in drains.
The UK launch is part of a worldwide effort to tackle the growing scourge of ‘fatbergs’, congealed masses of non-biodegradable matter – include wet wipes, congealed grease and fat.
Fatbergs can be hundreds of feet long can block sewers costing cities around the world millions to remove each year.
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The first ‘fine to flush’ wet wipes will hit UK stores for the first time next month after being given the official certification after passing stricter sewer tests. Organic care brand Natracare are the first to carry the symbol and claim that the wipe will fully break down in drains
Water UK, which represents water and sewerage companies in Britain, says wipes need to pass strict tests to gain the approved logo, Fine to Flush.
The symbol is designed to reassure eco-conscious customers that the products they use do not contain plastic and are biodegradable.
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Most brands adhere to standards set by the European industry body Edana allowing products to be labelled as ‘flushable’.
However these products do not break down when they enter the sewer system because they contain plastic or wood pulp.
Water UK says that the tests they conduct are less rigorous and accurate because they don’t replicate conditions inside sewers.
The launch is part of a worldwide effort to tackle the growing scourge of ‘fatbergs’, a congealed mass in a sewer system formed by non-biodegradable solid matter. This matter can be hundreds of feet long and includes wet wipes, congealed grease and fat
Water UK’s tests, which cost £8,000 ($10,000) for each product, look for plastics and other residual matter that could contaminate rivers, estuaries and the sea.
They found that the Natracare wipes are made from 100 per cent paper tissue and are plastic free, marine friendly and compostable.
Water UK Chief Executive Michael Roberts said: ‘This is an important step in the battle against blockages. We’ve all seen the impact of fatbergs recently, and we want to see fewer of them.
‘Improving the environment is at the core of what the water industry does, and the new “Fine to Flush” standard that we’ve created will make it easier for consumers to buy an environmentally-friendly product instead of one which clogs up drains and sewers.’
A piece of fatberg, a congealed lump of fat, sanitary napkins, wet wipes, condoms, diapers and similar items found in sewer systems, is seen on display at the Museum of London. It was part of a 250-metre blockage in Whitechapel
A sewer technician works in the intersection of the Regent Street and Victoria sewer in London. Most brands adhere to standards set by the European industry body Edana allowing products to be labelled as ‘flushable’. However these products do not break down when they enter the sewer system
Thousands of properties suffer sewer flooding caused by these sewer blockages every year in the UK, leading to high clean-up bills and increased insurance costs.
Sewer flooding also has a major impact on the environment, contaminating water and harm huge amounts of wildlife.
Last week, a giant fatberg was found blocking a sewer in the seaside town of Sidmouth in Devon.
It measures 210 foot (64m) fatberg is expected to take about eight weeks to remove.
The new flushable wipes will be sold in Waitrose, Ocado and independent health shops next month and are plastic free and compostable.
WHAT ARE FATBERGS?
Fatbergs are blockages made up of flushed fat, oil, grease and other flushed waste such as wet wipes and illegal drugs.
They form into huge concrete-like slabs and can be found beneath almost every UK city, growing larger with every flush.
They also include food wrappers and human waste, blocking tunnels – and raising the risk of sewage flooding into homes.
The biggest ever discovered in the UK was a 750-metre (2,460ft) monster found under London’s South Bank in 2017 (pictured)
They can grow metres tall and hundreds of metres long, with water providers last year declaring an epidemic of fatberg emergencies in 23 UK cities, costing tens of millions of pounds to remove.
The biggest ever discovered in the UK was a 750-metre (2,460ft) monster found under London’s South Bank in 2017.
Fatbergs take weeks to remove and form when people put things they shouldn’t down sinks and toilets.
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