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Anchorage utility to introduce ordinance making disposable wipes unlawful to flush
Summary
AWU told the assembly committee June 18 it will introduce an ordinance June 23 making it a civil offense to discharge disposable wipes into the sewer system, citing operations costs and public‑health risks; AWU said the measure is aimed primarily at education and behavior change rather than widespread fines.
The Anchorage Assembly Infrastructure, Enterprise and Utility Oversight Committee heard June 18 that Anchorage Water and Wastewater Utility plans to introduce an ordinance June 23 prohibiting the discharge of disposable wipes into the municipal sewer system.
Lisonbee Lang, assistant general manager at AWU, told the committee the code change would amend AMC 26 to make it unlawful “for any user to discharge or cause to be discharged any quantity of disposable wipes regardless of product labeling,” and that the principal goal is public awareness and behavior change rather than prosecution. “We have enforcement powers,” Lang said, “but the main goal of this ordinance…is public awareness and education.”
AWU presented estimates showing the operational impact of wipes: the utility estimated 6,000–7,000 pounds of wipes reached the Aspland (wastewater) plant each day, and staff attributed about $113,000 in employee labor and benefits and roughly $96,000 in 2025 tipping fees to handling wipes. AWU staff said wipes do not disintegrate like toilet paper, stick to fats, oils and grease, can jam pumps and screens, and raise maintenance costs that ultimately affect ratepayers.
David Persinger, AWU general manager, placed the local effort in a national context, saying the labeling of wipes has been a long‑running challenge: “This issue has been on the national level for a long time…manufacturers have competing interests,” Persinger said. He also noted recent federal bills that would require “do not flush” labeling and that federal action could simplify enforcement.
During committee questions members pressed on enforcement and early compliance steps. AWU said the ordinance would be a civil offense enforceable by code officers but that tracking wipes to an individual home is difficult; the utility emphasized education and targeted outreach as the typical first step. Assemblymember George Martinez recommended starting compliance outreach with municipally licensed childcare facilities so the municipality “takes our own words seriously.” AWU said targeted education and enforcement at specific facilities had worked in at least one previous case.
The ordinance is scheduled to be introduced at the Assembly’s June 23 meeting and would be enforced as a civil code violation if adopted. AWU said the measure is intended to give the utility a clear public posture and to support educational outreach, with fines available but not expected to be the primary tool.
