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MP to launch Bill to ban plastic in wet wipes

Policy & Politics Families
In the same week that world leaders are meeting in Glasgow for COP26, the UN climate conference, MP Fleur Anderson is leading a campaign to ban plastic in the 11 billion wet wipes used in the UK every year – 90 per cent of which contain some form of plastic.
The disposal of single-use, non-degradable wet wipes is a growing problem and is a leading cause of harm for our water systems and our marine environments PHOTO Adobe Stock
The disposal of single-use, non-degradable wet wipes is a growing problem and is a leading cause of harm for our water systems and our marine environments PHOTO Adobe Stock

The aim is to draw attention to the huge damage that single-use, non-degradable wipes do to our water systems and marine environment when they are flushed.

The 10 Minute Rule Bill to ban plastic in the manufacture and sale of wet wipes will have its first reading in Parliament today (Tuesday).

It is backed by a cross-party group of MPs and environmental organisations, including the Marine Conservation Society, Thames 21, the Green Alliance and the WWF, as well as Thames Water.

The disposal of single-use, non-degradable wet wipes is a growing problem and is a leading cause of harm for our water systems and marine environments. The equivalent of 163 wet wipes per person are used in the UK alone every year.

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