London, UK – A ban on the sale of plastic wet wipes has been signed into law in England, aiming to tackle the persistent problem of sewer-clogging fatbergs. The new legislation, set to take effect in 2027, aligns England with the rest of the UK in outlawing wipes made of plastic, which fail to disintegrate in the sewage system.
The move has been broadly welcomed by water companies, which estimate that clearing fatbergs congealed masses of fat, oil, and wet wipes costs them approximately £200 million a year. Plastic wipes, which can last for hundreds or even thousands of years, are a major contributor to these blockages.
The New Dilemma: Are Non-Plastic Wipes Safe to Flush?
While the ban removes the primary culprit, a new debate is emerging over the non-plastic wipes now dominating the market. Despite many being labelled as “flushable” by manufacturers, the government and water companies strongly urge consumers not to flush them.
Grant Mitchell, head of blockages at Severn Trent Water, described the volume of wipes removed from sewage as “a nightmare.” At the Minworth Wastewater Treatment works, which serves over two million people, an astonishing 10 tonnes of wet wipes are removed every day.
“Wet wipes are a problem because they’re made to not break down like toilet paper,” Mitchell explained, noting that they gather with fat, oil, and grease to create the colossal blockages.
Research from the University of East Anglia suggests that while non-plastic biodegradable wipes are much better than their plastic counterparts, they still take a significant amount of time to break down months to up to two years, far slower than toilet paper, which disintegrates within weeks.
‘Bin the Wipe’ is the New Clear Advice
Water companies had previously run a “Fine to Flush” certification scheme, but this was discontinued due to consumer confusion. The new, unified message from the government and the water industry is now crystal clear: “Bin the Wipe.”
Minister for Water and Flooding, Emma Hardy, stated that the ban would make a huge difference but encouraged manufacturers to show leadership immediately. “Instead of marketing them as being flushable, provide labelling to inform the public that they need to bin them and not flush them down the toilets,” she urged.
For now, water companies advise consumers to stick to the “Three Ps” rule for flushing: Pee, Paper, and Poo.
Key Exemptions Remain
Despite the wide-reaching ban, the legislation includes several notable exemptions:
• UK companies will still be permitted to manufacture and export plastic wet wipes.
• The wipes will still be available for purchase behind the counter at pharmacies and online.
• The medical profession successfully argued for an exemption, citing concerns that non-plastic wipes absorb too much of the necessary disinfectants, posing a risk to patient safety.
Water UK, the industry’s trade body, welcomed the restriction but is calling for even tougher measures, including a ban on the manufacture of plastic wet wipes and mandatory ‘do not flush’ labelling on all wet wipes, regardless of their material.