A significant environmental milestone is set for 2027, when the sale of plastic wet wipes will be banned across England, bringing it in line with existing laws in Scotland and Wales. This decisive move aims to tackle the £200 million annual cost inflicted by plastic wet wipes on the country’s sewage systems and natural habitats.
The ban was introduced as a private member’s bill by MP Fleur Anderson in November 2021 and has now been passed into law under the current Labour Party government. The legislation seeks to eliminate plastic from wet wipes, making them more biodegradable and reducing their long-lasting impact on the environment.
Speaking during Prime Minister’s Questions, Ms. Anderson highlighted the delay by the previous government and welcomed the current administration’s action: “Four years ago, I brought forward a bill to ban plastic-containing wet wipes. This government promised to implement the ban and is now fulfilling that promise. It’s crucial we all remember to bin wipes instead of flushing them.”
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Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer praised Anderson’s dedication, stating, “The public rightly condemns the past government for allowing sewage pollution in our lakes, rivers, and seas. This ban, alongside new pollution control measures, will end the blight of plastic wet wipes on our beaches, sewers, and wildlife.”
Ms. Anderson shared her experience witnessing the environmental damage caused by wet wipes at facilities like Beckton and Mogden, and on the Thames River, where the infamous ‘Wet Wipe Island’—a 180-tonne accumulation roughly the size of two tennis courts—altered the river’s course. “This ban is a major victory for communities and ecosystems alike,” she said.
Thames Water, which helped clear the ‘Wet Wipe Island,’ also welcomed the ban. A spokesperson said, “Blockages caused by wet wipes are the leading cause of pollution in our water network. Thames Water extracts an estimated 3.8 billion wipes annually, costing over £18 million. While banning plastic wet wipes is essential, it remains critical for the public to only flush the ‘three P’s’—pee, poo, and paper—to protect our waterways and sewer systems.”
This landmark legislation marks a pivotal step towards reducing plastic pollution and safeguarding the UK’s waterways for future generations.