The British government has announced legislation that will ban the use of wipes containing plastic. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) plans to introduce the legislation for England before the summer recess, with Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales implementing the ban in a co-ordinated manner in the autumn.
Plastic wipes break down into microplastics over time, which studies have shown can be harmful to human health and disrupt ecosystems - a recent survey showed an average of 20 wipes per 100 metres were found at various beaches surveyed in the UK. Once in the water environment, plastic-containing wipes may accumulate biological and chemical contaminants, increasing the risk of exposure to animals and humans.
Lawmakers argue that banning plastic-containing wipes will reduce plastic and microplastic pollution, reducing the amount of microplastic that ends up in wastewater treatment sites due to mistaken disposals - meaning beaches and sewers will benefit from the ban.
Surveys of public will show strong public support for the proposed ban - which would be introduced through secondary legislation under the Environment Act 1990 - with 95 per cent of respondents approving of the proposals.
The environment minister said: "Wipes containing plastic are polluting our sewers and causing microplastics to enter the environment. Following our success in introducing a charge for single-use plastic bags and banning the use of plastic microspheres in personal care products, Defra will introduce legislation to crack down on this source of pollution before the summer recess. I have always been clear that major changes need to be implemented to protect our sewers from pollution. This ban builds on a number of initiatives already in place to protect our sewers and hold water companies to account - including accelerating investment, putting water company fines back into the environment and increasing the number of inspections of water company sites."
An 18-month transition period will begin from the date the legislation is passed to give businesses time to prepare. Following consultation with industry, the ban will not target the manufacture of these products, which is in line with the recent single-use plastics directive. However, the Government will continue to encourage manufacturers to ensure that all of their wipes are plastic-free.
The government's response also provides for exemptions aimed at ensuring that plastic-containing wipes remain usable in the absence of viable alternatives - such as wipes used for medical disinfection purposes. The Government will regularly review the need for these exemptions.
