Baby wipes are soft, so they are not a problem when they get flushed. But they do not break down easily.
Baby wipes clog up your sewer line and can cause plumbing problems. The municipal water treatment plant cannot filter baby wipes out of the wastewater because baby wipes do not dissolve in water. As a result, baby wipes often end up in our ocean.
Baby wipes contain disinfectants, which are chemicals that kill germs. Disinfectants can also kill fish and other marine life if they get in the ocean. The chemicals from baby wipe runoff can harm animals living on the sea floor and can change the amounts of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the water. Baby wipe chemicals also affect how much sunlight penetrates the water, which can change the growth of plants in sea beds.
If you flush only a few baby wipes at a time, this may not be a problem for you right away. But if lots of people are flushing baby wipes down their toilets, it will add up to a lot of clogged sewer lines. It is better not to flush them at all.
The Right Way To Dispose Them?
Wet wipes should be disposed of in the same way as other wet or soiled items. They can be put in a waste bin, bagged and put in a public litter bin or even wrapped around your dog’s messier business.
If you use a lot of wet wipes then you should consider using a specially designed pedal bin to help you dispose of them hygienically. Also, if you are using wet wipes to clean up after going to the toilet, then you should consider using flushable ones instead. Flushable wet wipes have been specially designed to be flushed away down the toilet without causing blockages.