Growing concern about the environmental impact of disinfectant wipes
Disinfectant wipes are soaked in harsh chemicals such as bleach and quaternary ammonium. To preserve their structural integrity, wipes are often made with a durable blend of cotton and plastics such as polypropylene and polyester.11 After disposal, disinfectant wipes may eventually degrade into microplastics, which can contaminate rivers, oceans, and the food chain.15 Disinfectant wipes can take up to 100 years to biodegrade.7
The impact that hospital disinfectant wipes have on our environment
It is estimated that the average US hospital discards up to 8,000 wipes per licensed bed annually.35 With more than 931,000 beds across the country, that’s around 7,400,000,000 wipes polluting our ecosystem every year.16
