Setting the Record Straight on Michigan HB 4596
Cary, NC/Washington, D.C., August 5, 2024 – INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry released the below statement regarding local media reporting of MI HB 4596.
Michigan House Bill 4596, which was passed and signed into law by Governor Whitmer in May, has been the subject of significant misreporting from local news outlets in Michigan. The legislation applies to any disposable non-flushable wipe product that is “marketed as a baby or diapering wipe” and plastic-containing wipes that are “likely to be used in a bathroom and has significant potential to be flushed.” As such, the legislation in question pertains to the “Do Not Flush” symbol requirement on non-flushable wipes.
A narrative has emerged in local TV and print publications that indicates HB 4596 will ban the sale of products labeled “flushable” across the board. This is not true. The law does not apply to flushable wipes, which are made from short, plant-based fibers that are engineered to breakdown in water similar to toilet paper. The law does require wipes that were never intended for flushing prominently display the “Do Not Flush” symbol on packaging.
“INDA and the wipes industry were proud to support HB 4596 in Michigan, and this legislation represents the seventh state to pass do-not-flush labeling mandates for non-flushable wipes, all these states have near identical labeling requirements. Our industry worked hand in hand with the wastewater sector to support this language in California in 2021 other states have adopted this legislation including New Jersey, Washington, Oregon, Colorado, and Illinois,” stated INDA Director of Government Affairs Wes Fisher.
INDA and the wipes industry have also lent our support to the bipartisan Wastewater Infrastructure Pollution Prevention and Environments Safety (WIPPES) Act (H.R. 2964) which passed the U.S. House with 82% support in June and was brought to the floor by lead House Republican sponsor Lisa McClain of Michigan. The WIPPES Act would create a national requirement for these same do-not-flush labeling standards.
Scientific data supports the need for labeling on non-flushable wet wipes. INDA provided technical support for a recent, large-scale sewage collection study that showed non-flushable wipes labeled with the “Do Not Flush” symbol (including baby, surface cleaning, and beauty/personal care wipes), paper towels, trash, and hygiene products as comprising 99% of items creating concerns for wastewater operators.
About INDA
INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, serves hundreds of member companies in the nonwovens/engineered fabrics industry in global commerce. 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. INDA Media is the business-to-business publishing arm of INDA and publisher of International Fiber Journal and International Filtration News, which reach a vast network of professionals who employ fibers, filaments, and filtration systems to optimize their application environments. For more information, visit www.inda.org.
