Plastic-based wet wipes are to be banned in England in an effort to reduce water pollution, according to UK Environment Minister Therese Coffey. The ban will come into force within the next year following a short consultation period, as part of a broader strategy called “Plan for Water”, which aims at improving water quality across England. The government’s decision to ban the wet wipes is based on the significant environmental damage caused by wet wipes containing plastic, including their contribution to sewer blockages and fatbergs, which cost around £100m a year to clear up.
“Water UK”, which represents the water industry, states that 93% of sewer blockages are caused by wet wipes flushed down toilets, and around 90% of wipes containing plastic. The plastics in these wet wipes do not break over time, causing them to become snagged and stick together, resulting in sewage being unable to flow through pipes.
The government’s decision to ban plastic-based wet wipes follows a 2021 consultation, where 96% of respondents supported the ban. However, earlier this year, the government made the final decision regarding this prohibition. In Wales, a proposed ban on plastic in wet wipes has not yet been implemented, and in Scotland, a consultation was conducted, but no further action has been taken.
The broader “Plan for Water” strategy also includes a potential ban on some types of forever chemicals, tackling pollution from farming, and run-off from road traffic. Pollution from intensive farming, particularly from chicken farms, is the most common way rivers are being contaminated, according to a parliamentary report from 2022.
Water companies, who spend millions of pounds clearing up blockages caused by wet wipes, have welcomed the ban. In Yorkshire, for example, wipes are the biggest cause of blockages and caused almost half of them in 2022, according to Yorkshire Water. Despite this, opposition parties criticized the government’s plans, calling them “too little, too late”. They argue that the government has been “asleep at the wheel” for many years and allowed rivers to “fill up with untreated human effluent and toxic agricultural pollution”.
In conclusion, while the ban on plastic-based wet wipes in England is a step in the right direction towards addressing water pollution, it is clear that further action is needed to tackle the issue fully. The “Plan for Water” strategy provides a broad framework for improving water quality, but it remains to be seen whether the government will commit sufficient resources to address the significant environmental challenges that remain.
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