Environmental charity Thames21 is calling on the government to swiftly announce a date when it will introduce legislation to ban plastic in wet wipes to prevent them from ending up in the River Thames and its tributaries.
The previous government, under former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, announced that it would introduce legislation to ban plastic in wet wipes in April. However, the current government has not set a timetable for introducing this new law.
Wet wipes make their way into rivers and seas after being flushed down the toilet and sewage overflows dump them into the water. Once in the sewage system, they cause blockages and lead to sewage spills. Commonly, sewage-derived wet wipes contain plastic fibres that prevent them from biodegrading. As they accumulate on slow-moving parts of rivers, they create artificial islands harming wildlife and impacting water quality.
Wet wipes that contain plastic can take many years to biodegrade, breaking down into microplastics with time. These tiny particles are ingested by wildlife, spreading across the food chain and harming entire ecosystems.
Thames21 CEO Chris Coode said: “The River Thames is our lifeblood. It is an important blue space used for recreation, enjoyment, and to connect with nature. Sewage-derived wet wipes have been harming the river, wildlife, and people for many years. We must turn the tide on plastic production to prevent it from entering the environment in the first place. Therefore, we urge the government to take swift action to make the legislation of banning plastic in wet wipes effective sooner rather than later to help protect the River Thames.
“We understand this is not the panacea to the plastic and sewage challenges we are experiencing. Multi-stakeholder action is needed to improve the dire state of our freshwater ecosystems. Manufacturers should invest in the development of sustainable plastic-free alternatives; water companies must invest in upgrading sewage infrastructure and be less reliant on sewage overflows; and consumers need to do their part and dispose of their waste correctly, flushing down only the 3 Ps (pee, poo, and paper) and discarding anything else in the bin.”
Thames21 has been working with citizen scientists, the Port of London Authority (PLA) and Tideway since 2017 to gather data on the sewage-derived wet wipes found on the Thames. The Big Wet Wipe Count events collect and monitor the impact these wipes have on the river, having counted more than 135,000 over the years. The next Big Wet Wipe Count is happening on Sunday 20th October on the south side of Hammersmith Bridge.
PLA’s Director of Sustainability, Grace Rawnsley, said: “We continue to support Thames21’s campaign to ban plastic wet wipes. Tackling microplastics at source is a key part of our own Clean Thames Plan and Manifesto, and we share the concerns of pollution from storm overflows and discharges from sewage treatment works which are affecting the Thames.
“As a Trust port, protecting the river for future generations is core to our values. Our vision is a clean river, free of all sewage and pollution, with a healthy eco-system that supports biodiversity and recreational use.”
