INDA Applauds U.S. Senate Approval of WIPPES Act on Non-Flushable Wipes

The U.S. Senate has passed the Wastewater Infrastructure Pollution Prevention and Environmental Safety (WIPPES) Act (S. 1092). The legislation introduces national standards for labeling non-flushable wipes. The bill will now return to the House for further consideration.

The House version of the bill, H.R. 2269, was previously passed by the U.S. House on a voice vote in June 2025. Following Senate approval, the bill will now return to the House for consideration.

The WIPPES Act is designed to address sewer system blockages linked to the improper disposal of consumer wipes that are not intended for flushing. The proposed federal framework builds on prior collaboration between industry stakeholders and wastewater operators, which has already led to the adoption of similar legislation in seven states.

Under the Act, a national standard will be introduced requiring clear “Do Not Flush” labeling on the packaging of non-flushable wipes, aligning with existing state-level regulations.

“INDA has championed this legislation for the past several years, and we are encouraged to see it pass out of the Senate. With the House having passed its version of the bill last year, we now have more momentum behind this legislation than ever. We extend our thanks to the bill sponsors, our industry and wastewater partners, and INDA members as we take another step forward to make “Do Not Flush” labeling nationwide,” said Wes Fisher, Director of Government Affairs.

The WIPPES Act is led in the Senate by Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Senator Susan Collins (R-ME). The companion legislation in the House was introduced by Representative Lisa McClain (R-MI) and Representative Kevin Mullin (D-CA).