Bill Overview
Title: PIPES Act
Description: This bill requires the Environmental Protection Agency to establish standards for flushable wipes and require wipes that are marketed as being flushable to comply with those standards. The bill provides for civil penalties for noncompliance.
Sponsors: Rep. McClain, Lisa C. [R-MI-10]
Target Audience
Population: People using flushable wipes and affected by infrastructural standards
Estimated Size: 300000000
- The PIPES Act concerns the regulation of flushable wipes, which are used globally.
- Flushable wipes are used by a large percentage of households, individuals, and industries, impacting a wide demographic.
- The regulation of flushable wipes will impact manufacturers, consumers, and environmental bodies, focusing on producing and using safe disposal methods.
- Flushable wipes are particularly marketed in developed countries, but the environmental and infrastructural impact—such as blocked sewer systems—can be global.
- Improved standards for flushable wipes are intended to mitigate sewer blockages, benefiting city infrastructure worldwide, particularly in urban areas.
- Environmental stewardship is a global concern, and products sold internationally will need to conform to these standards.
Reasoning
- The PIPES Act primarily impacts users of flushable wipes, particularly those in urban environments where sewer blockages are more common.
- Manufacturers of flushable wipes may alter production processes to comply with new standards, potentially affecting local economies and employment.
- Individuals who rely on flushable wipes for personal or caregiving reasons would be directly impacted by changes in product availability or cost.
- Environmental improvements due to reduced sewer blockages may lead to better public health outcomes and increased general satisfaction among urban dwellers.
- The policy might have little to no impact on rural populations who use alternative waste management systems, like septic tanks. The policy is more relevant to dense municipalities.
- The US population is diverse, so the simulated interviews should include a variety of demographics, including age, gender, location, and occupation.
Simulated Interviews
Nurse (New York City, NY)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The flushable wipes are essential for caregiving; changes might make my job harder if they become less available or more expensive.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Plumber (Houston, TX)
Age: 42 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Fewer blockages would mean better service and fewer emergency calls related to wipes.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 3 |
Product Manager for Consumer Goods Manufacturer (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy will increase our production costs and force us to innovate to meet standards, but that's good for the environment in the long term.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Farmer (Rural Iowa)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy doesn't affect me directly, as we rarely use such products.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Retired Teacher (Miami, FL)
Age: 61 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I am concerned that the new standards will make these products less available or more expensive.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Environmental Activist (Seattle, WA)
Age: 30 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy is a positive step toward reducing pollution and protecting infrastructure.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 4 |
City Sanitation Official (Chicago, IL)
Age: 48 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The regulations would mean cleaner sewers, less blockage, and lower maintenance costs.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 4 |
College Student (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 20 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Reduced plumbing issues would make dorm life smoother.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Public School Teacher (Denver, CO)
Age: 39 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Balancing cost and environmental benefits is challenging, especially on a teacher's salary.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
Retired Sewer System Engineer (Boston, MA)
Age: 65 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Stricter standards on flushable wipes will greatly help reduce burden on sewer systems.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 4 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $100000000 (Low: $80000000, High: $120000000)
Year 2: $70000000 (Low: $60000000, High: $90000000)
Year 3: $50000000 (Low: $40000000, High: $70000000)
Year 5: $50000000 (Low: $40000000, High: $70000000)
Year 10: $30000000 (Low: $20000000, High: $50000000)
Year 100: $10000000 (Low: $5000000, High: $20000000)
Key Considerations
- The administrative capacity of the EPA to implement and enforce this regulation efficiently.
- The readiness of manufacturers to adapt to new standards without significantly increasing product costs for consumers.
- The potential global influence of the EPA's standards, as many U.S.-based products are marketed worldwide.