A proposal that could ban the sale of most “flushable” sanitary wipes in New York City stores is set to be heard by the City Council next week.
The bill would also prohibit labeling the wipes as flushable unless they’ve passed a test approved by the city Department of Environmental Protection.
Violators of the proposed law would be subject to fines of up to $2,500.
Wipes used for infants and adult personal hygiene would both be subject to enforcement.
The bill, first introduced in February 2015 by Councilman Antonio Reyes (D-Brooklyn), aims to ease the burden wipes put on the city’s aging sewer infrastructure, particularly the clogging of pipes.
But critics say it will hurt small mom-and-pops who can expect customers to flock to the internet in droves.
“It’s a very difficult prospect for businesses to face,” said Thomas Grech, executive director of the Queens Chamber of Commerce.
Grech also noted that while some wipes that contain microscopic threads of plastic do pose a problem for sewers, flushable wipes don’t.
Dave Rousse, president of the Association of the Non-woven Fabrics Industry, said flushable wipes are designed to start degrading as soon as they go down the drain.
“The bill is misguided,” he said.
The council’s environmental protection committee will hold a hearing on the bill Wednesday.