Bill > S831

Introduced Session

This bill requires non-flushable disposable wipes to be labeled and prohibits the sale, offering for sale, or distribution for sale of these products without "Do Not Flush" labeling. The bill defines a "non-flushable nonwoven disposable wipe product" to mean any pre-moistened wipe product constructed from nonwoven sheets and designed and marketed for diapering, personal hygiene, or bathroom surface cleaning purposes. A non-flushable nonwoven disposable wipe product excludes any wipe product that is "flushable," "sewer safe," "septic safe," or otherwise appropriate for disposal in a toilet, including, but not limited to, pre-moistened toilet tissue. Any non-flushable nonwoven disposable wipe product sold, offered for sale, or distributed for sale in this State would be required to have a "Do Not Flush" logo on the product packaging, which would: (1) depict a person dropping an item into a toilet with a circle and diagonal line superimposed over the image, to indicate that flushing the item is prohibited; (2) be sized in proportion to the size of the packaging; (3) be unobscured by seams or folds; and (4) for product packaging intended to dispense individual wipes, be permanently affixed to the product packaging and visible when individual wipes are dispensed. The Department of Environmental Protection and the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety are to enforce the bill's provisions. The bill would not apply to media advertisements or retailers who sell non-flushable disposable wipe products that are not properly labeled. Violations of the bill's provisions would be subject to a civil penalty of up to $5,000 for each offense. Each day during which a nonwoven disposable product is sold, offered for sale, or distributed in violation of the bill's provisions would constitute a separate offense.

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Nick Scutari (D)*, 

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Commerce Committee (on 01/09/2018)