Media release – Standards Australia, 23 May 2022
Flushable Products: Standard Now Available
Following nine weeks of public consultation and consideration of comments received, Standards Australia has published the highly anticipated standard, AS/NZS 5328, Flushable Products.
AS/NZS 5328’s publication follows years of contention around what can be flushed down a toilet, an issue that only worsened during Australia’s COVID-19 lockdowns.
The standard defines criteria for what material can be flushed down the toilet and, therefore, what products can be classified ‘flushable.’ To assist manufacturers in developing these products, the standard provides test methods for determining ‘flushability.’ In order to be ‘flushable’, the standards must have a declaration that it has passed six stringent tests. It also specifies disposable labelling requirements so that if a product is flushable, it will be clearly indicated on the packaging, providing confidence for the end consumer.
AS/NZS 5328 was developed by technical committee WS-041, including experts from consumer interest groups, water utilities, local government organisations, suppliers, manufacturers, and associations, including The Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA).
“During the onset of COVID-19, we saw a toilet paper shortage, and people resorted to flushing inappropriate materials down the toilet,” said Roland Terry-Lloyd, Head of Engagement at Standards Australia.
“This standard will hopefully help mitigate the risk of blockages as it will provide clarity to both manufacturers and consumers on what can be flushed.”
“We welcome the release of this Australian and New Zealand Standard. Clear specifications for manufacturers and clearer labelling for customers will help reduce pipe blockages and extra costs for water utilities and customers due to inappropriate material being flushed down the toilet,” said Adam Lovell, Executive Director, Water Services Association of Australia
“We congratulate the urban water industry, manufacturers, suppliers and consumer interest groups for their commitment and contributions to developing this important Standard, which is already receiving attention with other countries expressing interest in adopting it,” Mr Lovell concluded.
Media release – TasWater, 23 May 2022
TasWater welcomes new Australian Standard on Flushable Products
TasWater welcomes today’s announcement from Standards Australia of the release of DR AS/NZS 5328 Flushable Products. The new standard outlines the criteria for materials which are suitable for flushing down the toilet in Australia and New Zealand.
TasWater’s Service Delivery General Manager David Hughes-Owen said the new standard would help reduce the volume of unsuitable items requiring removal from the state’s sewerage network.
“We cannot overstate how important the implementation of this standard is to our service delivery operations and to the future health of our sewerage infrastructure,” Mr Hughes-Owen said.
“Although participation in the standard is voluntary, what is encouraging is that it was developed through committed collaboration between manufacturers, water utilities and peak bodies,” he said.
“It’s clear there is an appetite for improved outcomes in this area. Items such as wet wipes – including wipes currently marketed as ‘flushable’ – and paper towel cause build-up and blockages in our systems when flushed. Flushing these items also risks blocking both the household pipes as well as TasWater’s sewerage system and they remain a problem right up until we have to sift them out when they reach the sewage treatment plant.”
Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA) Executive Director Adam Lovell said the new Australian and New Zealand standard gave clarity to both manufacturers and customers.
“Clear specifications for manufacturers and clearer labelling for customers will help reduce what has become a major concern for the urban water industry with increasing pipe blockages and extra costs for water utilities and customers due to inappropriate material being flushed down the toilet,” Mr Lovell said.
“We congratulate the urban water industry, manufacturers, suppliers and consumer interest groups for their commitment and contributions to developing this important standard, which is already receiving attention with other countries expressing interest in adopting it,” he said.
“The message from the water industry has always been ‘only flush the 3P’s’. That doesn’t change, but now we can add ‘check for the flushable symbol’. If there is no flushable symbol on the packet then don’t flush it, put it in the bin.”
