Tory ministers recycle wet wipe ban announcement for the third time in 5 years

03 April 2023 , 21:30

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Therese Coffey is the third environment secretary to say she will ban wet wipes (Image: Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Out-of-ideas Tory ministers today will announce a proposed ban on wet wipes for the third time in five years.

Environment Secretary Therese Coffey will pledge to consult shoppers and industry on outlawing those containing plastic fibres.

Ministers are under pressure to explain how they will stop rubbish and sewage polluting Britain’s rivers and coastline.

At an event in London, Ms Coffey will unveil her plan to ban wipes, which have been found to make up around 90% of the material causing sewer blockages.

When combined with restaurant and home cooking oil waste, they end up forming vast "fatbergs".

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But it is the third time Tory ministers have announced they are looking at banning the products.

Wet wipes have been blamed for fatbergs in Britain's sewers (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Michael Gove first raised the idea in May 2018 when he was environment secretary, before it was proposed again by George Eustice in November 2021 when he held the post.

Liberal Democrat environment spokesman Tim Farron said: "Yet again the Conservative Government is taking the public for fools by re-announcing a wet wipe policy from five years ago. This is a complete farce.

"The Government is all talk and no action when it comes to protecting our rivers and oceans from foul pollution.

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“Ministers are still letting water companies get away with an environmental scandal and today's pathetic announcement will do nothing to stop that.

"This is further proof why Therese Coffey should resign. We need an Environment Secretary who actually cares about the environment.”

Boots last year announced it would stop selling wet wipes containing plastic fibres because of concerns about their environmental impact.

The retailer sold more than 800million wet wipes a year.

Lib Dem Tim Farron accused ministers of taking the public for fools (Julian Hamilton/Daily Mirror)

A large proportion of the 11billion wipes used in the UK every year contain some form of plastic and thousands are found on beaches, according to the Marine Conservation Society.

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Boots has reformulated its own wipes to remove plastic in favour of plant-based biodegradable alternatives and other manufactures are doing the same.

Ms Coffey last night said: “Our rare chalk streams and world-famous coastlines, lakes and rivers are hugely important to local communities and to nature.

“I completely understand the concerns that people have about the health and resilience of our waters, which is why I am setting out this plan for a truly national effort to protect and improve them. That includes higher penalties taken from water company profits which will be channelled back into the rivers, lakes and streams where it is needed.

“This is not straightforward, but I take this issue extremely seriously and things need to change. That’s why we have developed this plan and we are committed to delivering the progress that people want to see.”

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John Stevens