Overview

Title

To require certain products to be labeled with ‘Do Not Flush’ labeling, and for other purposes.

ELI5 AI

The WIPPES Act is a rule that says some products, like wipes you use to clean, need to have a big sign that says "Do Not Flush." This is to make sure people know not to throw them in the toilet because it can cause big problems with the pipes.

Summary AI

S. 1092, titled the “Wastewater Infrastructure Pollution Prevention and Environmental Safety Act” or the “WIPPES Act,” requires certain products, like disposable wipes, to be labeled with a ‘Do Not Flush’ warning. The bill details how these labels should be displayed on various types of packaging to ensure they are clearly visible. It prohibits making any claims that such wipes can be flushed and assigns enforcement responsibilities to the Federal Trade Commission. The bill also restricts states from creating different labeling requirements from those established by this federal law.

Published

2025-03-24
Congress: 119
Session: 1
Chamber: SENATE
Status: Introduced in Senate
Date: 2025-03-24
Package ID: BILLS-119s1092is

Keywords AI

do not flush labeling wippes act federal trade commission wastewater pollution prevention environmental safety labeling requirements state law preemption packaging visibility consumer product safety enforcement mechanisms

Sources

Bill Statistics

Size

Sections:
2
Words:
2,119
Pages:
11
Sentences:
41

Language

Nouns: 634
Verbs: 175
Adjectives: 139
Adverbs: 35
Numbers: 47
Entities: 90

Complexity

Average Token Length:
4.27
Average Sentence Length:
51.68
Token Entropy:
5.19
Readability (ARI):
28.11

AnalysisAI

Overview of the Bill

The proposed legislation, commonly referred to as the "Wastewater Infrastructure Pollution Prevention and Environmental Safety Act" or the "WIPPES Act," aims to mitigate issues arising from improperly disposed wipes. By mandating "Do Not Flush" labels on certain disposable wipes, the bill seeks to prevent these products from entering wastewater systems and causing blockages or pollution. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is delegated the responsibility of enforcing compliance with these labeling requirements across the United States. Moreover, the bill stipulates a uniform labeling standard nationwide, preventing individual states from imposing additional or different requirements.

Significant Issues

The bill presents several notable issues related to its implementation and impact:

  1. Enforcement Concerns: The primary enforcement responsibility lies with the FTC, without explicit coordination with agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency. This raises questions about the comprehensive enforcement of these labeling regulations, especially given the possible overlap in jurisdiction concerning environmental and consumer safety.

  2. Preemption of State Laws: By ensuring federal supremacy in labeling standards, states are prevented from enacting stricter measures. This lack of flexibility might be a concern in states where environmental conditions demand more stringent controls.

  3. Labeling Durability and Visibility: While the bill addresses the visibility of labels, it does not provide specific guidelines on the durability and permanence of these labels. Additionally, the term "high contrast" relies on specific technical values that might prove challenging to implement consistently.

  4. Defining "Covered Entities": The broad classification of who is responsible for compliance could lead to confusion and implementation challenges across various distribution levels including manufacturers and retailers.

Broad Public Impact

Primarily, this bill could lead to positive environmental outcomes by reducing the incidence of wipes being flushed and subsequently causing blockages in wastewater systems. This proactive step is likely to lead to reduced maintenance costs for municipal sewer systems and prevent environmental contamination.

Impact on Stakeholders

  • Manufacturers and Retailers: The clear labeling requirement will compel these entities to potentially redesign packaging to meet new federal standards. Manufacturers may face challenges in updating packaging designs, which could translate into increased costs in the short term.

  • Consumers: With clearer labeling, consumers are more likely to be informed about proper disposal practices, reducing confusion about what can be safely flushed. This education might cultivate more environmentally responsible behaviors among the general public.

  • State Governments: States may find the federal preemption of additional state-specific regulations to be restrictive, potentially limiting their ability to address unique local environmental challenges.

In summary, while the bill is well-intentioned in its efforts to address environmental concerns, some aspects may need refinement to ensure effective implementation and enforcement across various regions and stakeholders. Balancing federal standards with local needs and ensuring robust enforcement measures are critical considerations moving forward.

Issues

  • The enforcement mechanism of the 'Do Not Flush' labeling relies heavily on the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) without clear guidance on coordination with other relevant agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency or the Consumer Product Safety Commission, raising concerns about its effectiveness in enforcing these provisions (Section 2, subsections (e)(1)-(e)(4)).

  • The section on preemption of State laws eliminates the possibility for states to introduce stricter 'Do Not Flush' labeling requirements, which could be concerning for states with specific environmental needs or policies (Section 2, subsection (f)).

  • The lack of specific requirements for the durability and permanence of the labeling may lead to potential issues with labels wearing off or becoming unreadable, undermining the efficacy of the labeling requirements (Section 2).

  • The term 'high contrast' is defined based on specific light reflectance values, which may not be straightforward to apply in real-world packaging situations without further clarification or standardization (Section 2, subsections (b) and (c)).

  • There is a lack of a detailed explanation of how 'reasonable visibility' of the symbol and label notice will be consistently ensured across different types of packaging, which might lead to inconsistent enforcement (Section 2, subsections (b) and (c)).

  • The broad definition of a 'covered entity' could result in ambiguity regarding enforcement and accountability across the wide range of potential manufacturers, wholesalers, suppliers, and retailers (Section 2, subsection (g)(3)).

Sections

Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.

1. Short title Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The first section of this act provides its short title, allowing it to be officially called the “Wastewater Infrastructure Pollution Prevention and Environmental Safety Act” or the “WIPPES Act.”

2. Do not flush labeling Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

Covered products like disposable wipes must have clear "Do Not Flush" labels and symbols displayed prominently on their packaging to prevent flushing, and the Federal Trade Commission is responsible for enforcing this requirement. State laws cannot impose different labeling standards, ensuring uniformity across all states.