After securing a Commons debate, Fleur Anderson MP welcomed the Government’s draft ban on plastic in wet wipes. During her debate, ministers nailed down the legislative timetable, an overdue victory for our rivers, our sewers, and future generations.
Every year the UK uses an estimated 11 billion wet wipes, many containing hidden plastics like polyester and polypropylene which do not biodegrade. These wipes end up in rivers, oceans, and sewer systems, causing fatbergs, blockages, and severe environmental damage. Thames Water alone clears 75,000 blockages a year, with wipes the number one cause, costing £18 million annually.
Fleur Anderson said:
“This is a huge step forward for our environment and our communities. Wet wipes may seem small, but their impact is massive. I’ve seen the damage first-hand at Beckton and Mogden, and on the Thames where ‘Wet Wipe Island’, 180 tonnes, the size of two tennis courts, literally shifted the river’s course. I’ve introduced bills in Parliament and campaigned with schools, residents and retailers, and with this ban, we can finally turn the tide.”
The draft legislation, titled the Environmental Protection (Wet Wipes Containing Plastic) (England) Regulations 2025, has been published, thanks to the hard work of the government. This will take the form of a Statutory Instrument that will be considered in the House of Commons on the 3rd November, and the House of Lords on the 10th November. The ban on wet wipes containing plastic fibres will then be in force from Spring 2027.
Removing plastic from wet wipes will make them more biodegradable and reduce long-lasting pollution in rivers and seas. The ban will also level the playing field for retailers – with Boots and Tesco already proving plastic-free wipes are possible, and ensure all companies meet the same environmental standards.
Minister Emma Hardy thanked Fleur Anderson for her campaigning during the debate:
“I start by paying tribute to my hon. friend Fleur Anderson for the work she has done to raise this important topic, and for her years of campaigning to bring it to the fore. She has had a high-profile campaign to ban wet wipes that contain plastic, including tabling a private Member’s Bill in November 2021. My hon. Friend has been instrumental in getting us to this point. In fact, I would go as far as to say that without her contribution, we probably would not be at the stage we are now.”
