We recommend a ban on the sale of all non-flushable wet wipes which contain plastic.

In the UK, an estimated 11 billion wet wipes are used per year, and 90% of them contain plastic. These non-flushable wet wipes are causing significant pollution to our marine environment.

The disposal of these non-flushable wet wipes causes fatbergs, solidified waste matter in the sewer system formed by the combination and accumulation of non-flushable wet wipes, oil, fat, grease, and other waste solids. It is estimated that non-flushable wet wipes make up over 90% of fatberg material. As plastics move through the aquatic environment, they break up, turning into microplastics which can be ingested by wildlife and enter the food chain and water supply. When wet wipes are ingested by aquatic life, they cause suffocation, starvation and death.

According to Water UK, water companies are paying an estimated £100 million per year to clear 300,000 blockages, and passing the costs of this onto consumers.

The Government currently plans to ban single-use plastic cutlery, plates and polystyrene cups in England, but not non-flushable wet wipes containing plastic. When it comes to wet wipes, there are flushable alternatives which do not contain plastic and avoid the adverse consequences current non-flushable wet wipes are causing. For example, Andrex Washlets™ are plastic free, made from natural materials which are biodegradable and flushable. Similar brands of flushable wipes are made from natural materials such as organic cotton, viscose rayon, wood pulp, and bamboo which break down into non-toxic components.

In Bright Blue’s recent report, Global Green Giant? A policy story, we recommended a ban on the sale of all non-flushable wet wipes. Currently, there is a small price differential between flushable and non-flushable wet wipes, but this would likely reduce as the production and sale of flushable wet wipes increased.

The majority of the public wants to see them banned. In Bright Blue’s recent report, Nature positive? Public attitudes towards the natural environment, an overwhelming majority (71%) of the UK public agreed that non-flushable wet wipes should be banned.

We urge the governments across the UK to ban non-flushable wet wipes which contain plastic.

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