Stop Flushing Disposable Masks And Gloves, King County Warns

KING COUNTY, WA — As the coronavirus crisis continues throughout our region, King County is reminding residents to be mindful of how they discard disposable protective gear. Recently, sanitation workers have noticed an uptick in things like gloves and masks entering the wastewater system, as a result of people flushing them or littering them on the ground, which can lead to debris swept into storm drains.

Combatting improper materials is an ongoing effort, and despite two ongoing campaigns — "Don't Flush Trouble" and "Toilets are not trash cans" — such items continue to turn up where they should not. The results are not pretty.

"Convenience cleaning supplies, like paper towels and disinfecting wipes, are often flushed down toilets," said Marie Fiore with the King County Wastewater Treatment Division. "Those items are not flushable and can cause expensive plumbing clogs in your home or side sewer before they make their way to wastewater pump stations or treatment plants."

Since the public health crisis began, disposable protective gear has added to the list of usual culprits.

"Many municipal sewer agencies have this same problem, and there are reports of clogged pipes and pumps coming in from all over the country and abroad," Fiore said. "We've experienced tangles of wipes, socks, sanitary products and other trash regularly, but our staff stays on top of it to fend off serious damage to the system and prevent outflows. A fully functioning sewer system is vital to protecting public health and the environment."

Just last year, King County spent more of $120,000 to clear out problematic items, which officials said amounted to enough trash to fill two semi-trucks every week. The county says it's important to remember that even wipes that are labeled "flushable" are deceptive, and retain their structure when wet, preventing them from breaking down like toilet paper.

Legislation passed in Washington this year will soon require packaging on "flushable" wipes to clearly indicate they should not be flushed.

Learn more about how to properly dispose of questionable items on the King County website.