Environmental charity Thames21 has renewed its call for the government to urgently introduce legislation banning plastic in wet wipes, warning that delays are harming the River Thames and its ecosystems.
The previous Conservative government under Rishi Sunak committed last April to bring in a ban.
However, the current government has yet to announce a timetable, sparking concern among campaigners ahead of Thames21’s annual Big Wet Wipe Count citizen science event on 30 April.
Wet wipes flushed down toilets often end up in rivers when sewage overflows, causing blockages and dumping plastic pollution into waterways.
Thames21 says the plastic fibres in many wet wipes prevent them from biodegrading, creating artificial islands that damage wildlife and water quality.
Liz Gyekye of Thames21 said:
Together with our volunteers, we have collected more than 142,000 wet wipes from the Thames foreshore since 2017. Working together with our volunteers and partners, we were able to use this data to lobby the previous government to commit to introducing legislation to ban plastic in wet wipes last year.
“We urge the (Labour) 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. The River Thames deserves to be an amazing natural environment to be celebrated, enjoyed and protected.”
The Port of London Authority is backing the call for action.
Grace Rawnsley, Director of Sustainability at the PLA, said: “We support Thames21’s campaign to ban plastic in wet wipes because tackling microplastics at source is a key part of our plans for a cleaner river with richer biodiversity.”
“Although the super sewer will help, a ban on plastic in wet wipes is needed to prevent more microplastics entering our river, and the wider ecosystem.”
Thames21, along with partners like the PLA and Tideway, has been collecting vital data on wet wipe pollution since 2017.
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