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VIDEO. From the Montara Water and Sewer District (MWSD) Director’s meeting on Thursday, October 7th, 2021 at 7:30pm by zoom. Legal Counsel, Christine Fitzgerald presents.

The Full Assembly Bill (AB) 818 Text

“AB 818, Bloom. Solid waste: premoistened nonwoven disposable wipes.

The California Integrated Waste Management Act of 1989, administered by the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery, generally regulates the disposal, management, and recycling of solid waste.

This bill would require, except as provided, certain premoistened nonwoven disposable wipes manufactured on or after July 1, 2022, to be labeled clearly and conspicuously with the phrase “Do Not Flush” and a related symbol, as specified. The bill would prohibit a covered entity, as defined, from making a representation about the flushable attributes, benefits, performance, or efficacy of those premoistened nonwoven disposable wipes, as provided. The bill would establish enforcement provisions, including authorizing a civil penalty not to exceed $2,500 per day, up to a maximum of $100,000 per violation, to be imposed on a covered entity who violates those provisions.

The bill would establish, until January 1, 2027, the California Consumer Education and Outreach Program, under which covered entities would be required, among other things, to participate in a collection study conducted in collaboration with wastewater agencies for the purpose of gaining understanding of consumer behavior regarding the flushing of premoistened nonwoven disposable wipes and to conduct a comprehensive multimedia education and outreach program in the state. The bill would require covered entities to annually report to specified legislative committees and the State Water Resources Control Board on their activities under the program and would require the state board to post the reports on its internet website.”

Did You Know “Flushable” Wipes Are Bad for Our Sewer System? Bad Marketing. Trash Them, Don’t Flush Them

MAY 17, 2021 BY MICHELLE LEAVE A COMMENT (EDIT)

VIDEOS.

Trash Wipes and Rags; Do NOT Flush. Cost For Repair?

VIDEO. Two pump failures in last two weeks.

Wipes and rags, as seen below, are the culprit.

Talk to your neighbors, please.

Repair for one pump can be $50,000.

Replacement is very, very expensive. A new pump can be a million dollars.

Burning out a generator can cost $100,000 to replace

~ Montara Sewer and Water District’s (MSWD) Board Member Kathryn Slater-Carter and MSWD General Manager, Clemens Heldmaier.

“Flushable” Wipes Don’t Dissolve and Clog Sewer System ~ Trash ’em!

MARCH 18, 2020

VIDEOS.

Flushable Wipes need to be trashed!

What is FOG? Fats Oils and Grease Cause Clogs.

Cool it and Trash it. 🙁

AB 1672 Will Redefine the Marketing of “Flushable” Wipes

DECEMBER 12, 2019 BY MICHELLE (EDIT)

VIDEO. Heidi Sanborne of the National Stewardship Action Council (NSAC) asks the Sewer Authority Mid-Coastside (SAM) Board to fund ($1,000) NSAC advocacy of “circular economy” in Sacramento.

In particular, sewer authorities statewide are battling “flushable” wipes. Specifically, AB 1672 (2020 legislation) addresses Wet Wipe Labelling. Flushable wipes do NOT disintegrate like toilet paper does. Kimberly-Clark does not want this bill to pass. California represents 13% of the wipes industry; if this bill passes, it will set an example for the nation. KC does not want wipes reclassified as single use plastic.

Please do NOT flush wipes. They are not made only of paper, but often micro plastics as well.

It is a huge labor cost to SAM in the thousands of labor hours and a strain on the equipment.

AB 1672 Excerpt

Problem

Flushing these products presents a growing problem caused by nonwoven disposable products not breaking down after being flushed down the toilet. These products can entangle with tree roots, fats, oils, grease, and other nondispersible products, causing clogs in sewer pipes.

These clogs damage public infrastructure and can lead to costly and environmentally damaging sanitary sewer overflows that are a threat to public health.

Solution

On and after January 1, 2021, unless a product is a flushable wipe, a covered entity shall not, in any manner, make any of the following representations regarding a covered product:

(A) The product can be flushed.

(B) The product is safe for sewer systems.

(D) The product breaks apart shortly after flushing.

(E) The product will not clog household plumbing systems.

(F) The product will not clog household septic systems.

(G) The product is safe for plumbing.

(H) The product is safe to flush.

(I) The product will dissolve or disperse in interaction with water.

Circular Economy.

Design out waste and pollution.
Keep products and materials in use.
Regenerate natural systems.

NSAC PowerPoint Presentation and Video

California Association of Sanitation Agencies:

Lots of videos and links ~ ground zero for nixing wipes. Spread the word.

Overview

Single-use wet wipes have gained popularity in recent years. Many of these products are marketed as flushable, but often times are not compatible with sewer systems and infrastructure. Other products are not intended to be flushed but end up being improperly disposed of in the toilet. Flushing these products presents an increasing problem for property owners, sewer systems, and ratepayers, since wipes often do not break down after being flushed. Wipes can catch on tree roots and accumulate with fats, oils and grease and become large obstructions in the pipes. Further down the line, they weave together and create giant rags which get stuck in pumps, collection systems, and motors, causing backups and equipment failures. This problem is experienced across the state, country, and worldwide as disposable wet wipe products become more widely available.

Toilet to River

Please DON’T FLUSH “Flushable” Wipes Down the Toilet

DECEMBER 2, 2019 BY MICHELLE (EDIT)

VIDEO. Trash, don’t flush. Just because the label says “flushable” on the wipes container, does NOT mean you should flush them. We are trapped by bad marketing and a powerful wipes lobby.

Wipes and rags are a huge problem for Sewer Authority Mid-Coastside (SAM). Ultimately, the costs will be passed on to SAM customers.

If you have a baby in your life, have a no-flush conversation with their parent, or caregiver.

Sewer System Education From Coon Rapids Minnesota

Flushable Wipes Aren’t Really Flushable

While companies would have you believe those flushable wipes sold on store shelves are flushable, in reality, these wipes are harmful to City sewer systems. All wipes should be thrown in the trash, not flushed down the toilet. The only thing that should be flushed down the toilet is toilet paper. Feminine products, wipes, diapers, pills, grease or any other item should not be flushed down the toilet.

Read the handout below to learn more and watch the video to see how flushable wipes fail to break down in sewer systems.

Please Don’t Flush “Flushable Wipes” ‘Cos It Clogs Sewer System

MARCH 3, 2020 BY MICHELLE LEAVE A COMMENT (EDIT)

VIDEO. In particular, sewer authorities statewide are battling “flushable” wipes.

Specifically, AB 1672 (2020 legislation) addresses Wet Wipe Labelling.

Flushable wipes do NOT disintegrate like toilet paper does.

AB 1672 Will Redefine the Marketing of “Flushable” Wipes

Please DON’T FLUSH “Flushable” Wipes Down the Toilet

Charmin TP Commercial Frustrates the Sewer Authority Mid-Coast Board

Sewer Authority Mid-Coastside (SAM) Meetings ~ 2nd & 4th Mondays @ 7:00pm

Watch remotely. Comments and questions by email.

Agendas and Zoom Links

SAM Meeting Videos via Pacific Coast TV

Contact Us

Our regular office hours are 7:00 a.m. through 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding holidays.The Authority can be reached 24-hours a day at:

(650) 726-0124

Our Mailing Address is:

Sewer Authority Mid-Coastside
1000 Cabrillo Hwy N.
Half Moon Bay, CA 94019

Yellow = cancelled SAM meeting due to Holidays

(650) 726-7833 (fax)

Regular Board Meetings are on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of each month at 7:00pm.

From time to time a meeting date may be changed, cancelled or relocated. Check the posted agenda for any changes to the normal schedule (click on links below).

The Sewer Authority Mid-Coastside (SAM) provides wastewater treatment services and contract collection maintenance services for a population of approximately 27,000 in the following areas:

City of Half Moon Bay
El Granada
Miramar
Montara
Moss Beach
Princeton by the Sea