Ban on plastic wet wipes ‘is long overdue’

A report that wet wipes containing plastic will be banned in England next year under plans to tackle water pollution is long overdue, says a green energy expert.

Ron Fox was commenting after the environment minister, Therese Coffey, told the BBC that it was part of a wider plan to improve water quality in England.

“This scheme should have been brought in years ago,” said Ron, of Noreus Ltd, “as wet wipes flushed down toilets cause 93 per cent of sewer blockages, including so-called fatbergs which cost £100 million a year to clean up.”

He said the plastics do not break down and over time the wipes become snagged and stick together, causing sewage to stop moving through pipes.

Ron pointed out that around 90 per cent of 11 billion wet wipes used in the UK each year contained plastic. However, there are some greener alternatives available to buy.

Now MPs could instruct manufacturers to add clear labelling to all wet wipes, including those not containing plastic, to tell people not to flush single-use items down the toilet.

The ban on plastic-based wipes should come into force in the next year following a legally required consultation, said the environment minister.

In 2018 the government first said it planned to eliminate plastic waste including wet wipes. In 2021 96 per cent of people supported the idea in a government consultation. But then this year it decided against banning wet wipes after another consultation in England.

In Wales a proposed ban on plastic wet wipes has not yet been implemented, while the Scottish government consulted on the issue but has not taken any further action.

However, water companies, who spend millions of pounds clearing up blockages caused by wet wipes, are reported to be in favour of a ban.

Already, some companies, including Boots and Tesco, have already stopped the sale of wet wipes which contain plastic from their shops.

The wet wipes ban is part of a broader strategy, called Plan for Water, which the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) wants to improve England’s water quality. It includes a potential ban on some types of so-called forever chemicals or PFAS, tackling pollution from farming.

According to a parliamentary report in 2022 pollution from intensive farming, in particular from chicken farms, is the most common way rivers are being contaminated.

Last week the government announced that water companies could face unlimited fines for releasing untreated sewage into rivers and seas without good reason.

Figures show that there were an average of 825 sewage spills per day into England’s waterways in the last year.

“I just hope that after five years of talking that the clean-up policy this time is brought in as a matter of urgency,” said Ron, of Noreus Ltd on the University of Keele Science Innovation Park.

If you want any advice on green energy solutions such as helping clean up the environment, contact Ron on 0845 474 6641.

 

Caption: Facing a ban next year – wet wipes containing plastic.