Consumer Levies on Obstructive Garbage Amendment Act of 2026

COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA The John A. Wilson Building 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, D.C. 20004
Statement of Introduction Consumer Levies on Obstructive Garbage Amendment Act of 2026 March 2, 2026 Today, I am introducing the Consumer Levies on Obstructive Garbage (CLOG) Amendment Act of 2026, along with Councilmembers Robert C. White, Jr., Brianne K. Nadeau, and Brooke Pinto. On January 19, 2026, a part of the Potomac Interceptor sewer line collapsed near the Clara Barton Parkway in Montgomery County, Maryland. The Potomac Interceptor was built in 1962 and services the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia, carrying between 40 and 60 million gallons of untreated sewage daily from Dulles Airport to the Blue Plains treatment facility. From the time the sewer line collapsed until a temporary bypass was established on February 8, over 200 million gallons of wastewater and, consequently, E. coli, entered the Potomac River. The damage caused to the flora, fauna, and ecosystem of the Potomac River, and the threats presented to the health of the Anacostia River are devastating and demand an accounting of the factors that undermine the structural integrity of shared utilities. While the exact cause of the sewer line collapse is under investigation, misuse of the sewer system wears it out faster. Water utilities throughout the United States warn their customers every year to not flush certain products in their toilets. On February 8, 2026, the bypass systems, which were set up to divert sewage flow while the Potomac Interceptor was under repair, were temporarily disabled by a massive influx of so-called flushable wipes, causing yet another sewage overflow into the Potomac River. Pre-moistened wipes are designed to retain structure when wet. They degrade extremely slowly when expose to liquids because they are made from synthetic fibers like nylon, polyester, viscose, or sturdy natural materials like cotton or bamboo, which do not break down in a way that remotely resembles toilet paper disintegration. Over time, millions of non-degradable materials accumulate in pipes, attract fats, oils, and grease, creating fatbergs that cause clog pipes and lead to backups that cause property damage and destroy infrastructure. Utility companies and plumbers regularly beg their customers to flush only toilet paper and to dispose of pre-moistened wipes in the trash. Flushing such products reeks of irresponsibility, and it our community’s duty to adjust our purchasing behavior. This bill would create consumer incentives to more responsibly purchase cleansing products. First, this bill would subject wipes to a 15% sales tax rate. The funds raised by this tax would be directed to DC Water to enhance the capital budget for sewer system maintenance and repair. Second, this bill would encourage residents to switch to using bidets by exempting bidets from sales tax. Bidets are sustainable and provide a targeted, low-cost, and responsible alternative to non-woven disposable products and offers better cleansing and hygienic outcomes. This bill would buttress our regional sewer system infrastructure, create disincentives to purchase nonwoven disposable products that damage shared resources, and create an incentive to use environmentally friendly personal hygiene alternatives.
Christina Henderson Committee Member Councilmember, At-Large Human Services Chairperson, Committee on Health Facilities Transportation and the Environment
______________________________ ______________________________ 1 Councilmember Robert C. White, Jr. Councilmember Christina Henderson 2 3 4 ______________________________ ______________________________ 5 Councilmember Brianne K. Nadeau Councilmember Brooke Pinto 6 7 8 9 10 11 A BILL 12 13 __________ 14 15 16 IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 17 18 _________________________ 19 20 To amend Title 47 of the District of Columbia Official Code to tax the sale of disposable 21 wipes, remove the sales tax from the sale of bidets, and to direct taxes raised from the sale of 22 disposable wipes to the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority for capital 23 improvements to sewer lines. 24 25 BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this 26 act may be cited as the “Consumer Levies on Obstructive Garbage Amendment Act of 2026”. 27 Sec. 2. Title 47 of the District of Columbia Official Code is amended as follows: 28 (a) Chapter 20 is amended as follows: 29 (1) Section 47-2001 is amended by adding a new subsection (h-4) to read as 30 follows: 31 “(h-4) “Nonwoven disposable product” means a product constructed from 32 nonwoven sheets, including moist toilet tissue or cloth, that is designed, marketed, or commonly 33 used for personal hygiene purposes, including products advertised or labeled as safe to flush, safe 34 for sewer systems, or safe for septic systems; except, that this definition shall not include 35

products intended for cleansing infants or young children and that are not advertised or labeled 36 as safe to flush, safe for sewer systems, or safe for septic systems.”. 37 (2) Section 47-2002(a) is amended by adding a new paragraph (10) to read as 38 follows: 39 “(10) The rate of tax shall be 15% of the gross receipts from the sale of or charges 40 for nonwoven disposable products, which shall be dedicated to the District of Columbia Water 41 and Sewer Authority capital improvements plan for sewer infrastructure improvement projects 42 beginning on October 1, 2026.” 43 (3) Section 47-2005 of the District of Columbia Official Code is amended as 44 follows: 45 (A) Paragraph (41) is amended by striking the phrase “; and” and inserting 46 a semicolon in its place. 47 (B) Paragraph (42)(B)(ii) is amended by striking the period and inserting 48 the phrase “; and” in its place. 49 (C) A new paragraph (43) is added to read as follows: 50 “(43)(A) Sales of bidets 51 “(B) For the purposes of this paragraph, the term “bidet” means a 52 bathroom fixture, freestanding or attached to a standard toilet, which provides a water stream for 53 cleaning the anal and genital areas.”. 54 (b) Chapter 22 is amended as follows: 55 (1) Section 47-2201(a)(1) is amended as follows: 56 (A) Subparagraph (Q) is amended by striking the phrase “; or” and 57 inserting a semicolon in its place. 58
(B) Subparagraph (R) is amended by striking the period and inserting the 59 phrase “; or” in its place. 60 (C) A new subparagraph (S) to read as follows: 61 “(S) The sale of or charges for a nonwoven disposable product as defined 62 in § 47-2001(h-4).” 63 (2) Section 47-2202(a) is amended as follows: 64 (A) The second paragraph (6) is redesignated as paragraph (7). 65 (B) A paragraph (8) is added to read as follows: 66 “(8)(A) The rate of tax shall be 15% of the gross receipts from the sale of or 67 charges for nonwoven disposable products as defined in § 47-2001(h-4). 68 “(B) For fiscal years beginning after September 30, 2026, the proceeds of 69 the tax collected under subparagraph (A) of this paragraph shall be directed to the District of 70 Columbia Water and Sewer Authority capital improvements plan for sewer infrastructure 71 improvement projects.”. 72 Sec. 3. Fiscal impact statement. 73 The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement in the committee report as the fiscal 74 impact statement required by section 4a of the General Legislative Procedures Act of 1975, 75 approved October 16, 2006 (120 Stat. 2038; D.C. Official Code § 1-301.47a). 76 Sec. 4. Effective date. 77 This act shall take effect after approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the 78 Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto) and a 30-day period of congressional 79 review as provided in section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved 80 December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code § 1-206.02(c)(1)). 81