Page 13 - CIJ AUGUST 2025 Digital Edition

HYGIENE TAKES

Spain to Ban 20% Public Restrooms

Flushing of Wet Fail Basic Hygiene
Wipes July 2025 patterns. These tools

ewer systems across Spain are international help improve efficiency
routinely clogged by wet wipes survey by while reducing
T
that do not disintegrate like A ork revealed unnecessary cleaning
Stoilet paper, forming massive that only 20% of public rounds.
blockages known as fatbergs. This has restrooms globally meet As post-pandemic
resulted in €230 million annually in public user expectations for expectations rise, the
clean-up costs and rising microplastic cleanliness and hygiene. professional hygiene
pollution in rivers and oceans. Poor maintenance, market is expanding
Spain’s proposed law, expected to be lack of supplies, and rapidly. Cleanliness
passed later this year, will ban flushing outdated cleaning is now tied to visitor
cycles were cited as
of all synthetic and natural fibre wipes. confidence, public
Additionally, manufacturers will be legally key reasons behind health, and revenue
required to fund cleanup operations and dissatisfaction. impact, especially in
clearly label products as “non-flushable”. The industry is rapidly commercial spaces
Spain is among the first countries to link shifting to sensor-based, like malls, airports,
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) data-driven cleaning and healthcare units.
directly to the hygiene sector. Experts systems—which notify The global market is
say this move could trigger similar action staff when toilets expected to hit USD 25
across the EU and globally, reshaping need cleaning, when billion by 2030, with
consumer disposal behaviour and consumables are low, smart hygiene solutions
manufacturing accountability. and even track footfall taking centrestage.

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