Over the course of the last decade, the wet wipe industry has touted many of their products as "flushable." However, unlike toilet paper that breaks down as it travels through the wastewater system, these wipes remain intact and cause serious issues, from broken equipment to wastewater back-ups. This is why you should never flush wet wipes.

Wet wipes are made from a non-woven fabric, and, once introduced to the wastewater system, can combine together into massive clumps, which can clog the pumps that move wastewater from a home to the wastewater treatment plant. The clogged pumps face an increased risk of failure, which can lead to expensive and time-consuming repairs as well as an increased chance of wastewater back-ups, either in homes or onto the street. Any overflow, whether in a home or in the street, can not only cause damage to property, but also produces threats to the environment as well as humans and animals alike.

The most famous example of these clogs came in 2013 when a 16-ton mass of wipes and cooking fat blocked the London wastewater system for weeks. Cities such as Baltimore and New York City have also dealt with such blockages, spending valuable resources to fix the damage caused.

The costly repairs aren't just limited to those along the wastewater distribution route. At times, wipes never make it out of the homes, but instead cause blockage in the home plumbing systems and the cost to repair the issue falls on the homeowner.

Much of the confusion surrounding flushing wipes comes from the very packaging the wipes arrive in. Many companies claim their wipes are flushable, a claim that is often splashed across boxes and other packing materials. However, despite these claims, the wipes still do not disintegrate once flushed and, thus, the wipes should always be disposed of in the trash.

By ignoring these packaging claims and properly disposing of wet wipes, you can help decrease the odds of this serious threat to the environment. Remember, when in doubt, throw it in the trash.