LONDON, Nov. 18 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news:
Rivers,lakesand beaches will becleanerand wildlife better protected astheGovernment todaysignedinto law a ban on the sale of plastic wet wipes,marking a major step forward in tackling plastic pollutionwhich devastates ourwaterways.
Wet wipescontainingplastic are a growing source of pollution,with a recent survey showing an average of 20 wet wipeslittering every100 metres of beachacross the UK*.When flushed, they can break down into microplastics thatpoisonwildlife and enter the food chain.
The banfollows overwhelming public supportwith 95% of respondents to the governmentconsultationagreeing with the proposals.
While thenew lawtargets wipescontainingplastic, all wet wipes contribute to blockages and pollution when flushed. UK Water Industry Research found that wet wipes contribute to 94% of sewer blockages, which cost water companies around £200 million to fix each year- a cost that isultimatelypassedonto households through their water bills.
The public cantake actionnow byensuring that any wet wipes, even if they are labelled as flushable,are put in the bin rather than flushed away, to reduce costly blockages and safeguard nature.
Water Minister Emma Hardyhas written to manufacturers urging that product labelling for wet wipes reflects the government's message that wet wipes should be binned and not flushed.
Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds said:
This ban will put an end to plastic wet wipeswhich choke oursewers, litter our beaches and poison wildlife.
It'sanother example of the government taking strong, decisive action to cleanup our rivers,lakesand seas.
But we all have a role to play. Every wet wipe flushed down the toilet risks blocking sewers,causingpollutionand pushingup household bills. The solution is simple:bin wet wipes,don'tflush them.
Stephanie Cawley, Director of Customer Operations at Severn Trent, said:
The ban on plastics in wet wipes isan important stepforward in tackling one of the biggest challenges on the sewer network. Plastics in wet wipes makes them stronger and harder to break down, meaning they cause even more issues when flushed and are behinda huge numberof blockages.
Our message is only the three P's, pee, poo and paper should be flushed, and putting wet wipes of any kind in the bin will make a massive difference to the sewer network and the communities we serve.
Plastic-free wet wipes are readilyavailableand several retailers have already stopped selling wet wipescontainingplastic.Businesses will have until Spring 2027 to transition to the new rules.
Steve Ager, Chief Customer and Commercial Officer at Boots, said:
Bootswasproud to be one of the first retailers to remove all wipescontainingplastic from sale in stores and online in 2023 as part of our long-standing commitment with suppliers and customers to reduce the use of plastics.
We believe that healthy communities need a healthy planet, sowe are pleased to see the government taking action, as a ban on wipes containing plastic will have a much bigger impact than retailers acting alone.
Chris Coode, CEO at environmental charity Thames21, said:
Thames21 welcomes this fantastic news. This vital move is a crucial step towards protecting the health of our rivers, as it will reduce the introduction of microplastics into the environment.
Thames21 and its dedicated volunteers have been building evidence through our work on the River Thames for many years. A huge shout-out to Thames21's volunteers and partners for their persistence!
We would like to see more systemic change to tackle the issue of plastics entering the environment via wet wipes and other sanitary waste.
The government is committed to bringing forwardthe biggest overhaul of the water sector since privatisation to rebuild trust in the industryandsecure better outcomes for customers,investorsand the environment.
A key part of this is enabling pre-pipe drainage and wastewater solutions, including better management of ourrainwaterand preventing pollutants from entering the sewerage network and our waterways. This ban isan important aspect of thisambition, and the government is considering further action to support this.
Notes to editors
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The legislation bans the supply and sale of wet wipescontainingplastic in England. Welsh Government has already legislated, with the Northern Ireland Executive and Scottish Government expected to legislate by the end of the year.
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Legislation will be followed by an 18-month transition period, with the ban expected to come into force in Spring 2027.
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A further ban on manufacturewill beconsideredonce the ban on supply and sale has come into force.
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The ban applies only to wet wipescontainingplastic, not to all types of wet wipes.
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There are some exemptions, for example for use by medical professionals. More detail is available in the legislation documents.
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*For the period 2015 to 2020, an average of 20 wet wipes were found per 100m of beach surveyed across the UK according to Defra Beach Litter Monitoring Data.
Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.
