NYC may ban flushable wet wipes

NEW YORK (FOX5NY) - The New York City Council's environmental protection committee will consider a bill next week that would fine any store that sells wet wipes often used for infants and adult personal hygiene unless they meet stiff new regulations.

The committee is set to meet next Wednesday to discuss amending the administrative code in relation to the so-called non-woven disposable products.

The bill would also prohibit labeling the wipes as "flushable" unless they've passed a test approved by the city Department of Environmental Protection, reported the NY Post.

The wipes have been found to clog the city's aging sewer pipes.  The city's Department of Environmental Protection says the wipes often combine with other materials and create an impassible knot in the pipes.

Dave Rousse, president of the Association of the Non-woven Fabrics Industry, told the Post that the flushable wipes are designed to start degrading as soon as they go down the drain.

"The bill is misguided," Rousse said.

Violators could face fines of up to $2,500.

Some critics say smaller stores will be hurt because customers will take to the Internet to order the wipes instead of buying them in local stores.