New Ban on Wet Wipes in England.
A new law will ban the supply and sale of wet wipes containing plastic in England. The legislation will be followed by an 18-month transition period, with the ban expected to come into force in Spring 2027.
The ban follows overwhelming public support with 95% of respondents to the government consultation agreeing with the proposals.
While the new law targets wipes containing plastic, 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 is ultimately passed onto households through their water bills.
The public can take action now by ensuring 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.
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