Is this the end of the wet wipe? Tories and Labour both vow to outlaw sales of ones with plastic in them
A UK-wide ban on wet wipes is finally set to be unveiled this week after the Tories and Labour pledged decisive action to tackle the scourge of plastic pollution.
In a major victory for the Mail's Turn The Tide On Plastic campaign, Ministers are expected to introduce 'world-leading' draft legislation this summer to outlaw the supply and sale of wet wipes containing plastic.
Environment Secretary Steve Barclay is due to say this week that the action is needed to protect the UK's waterways from damaging pollution and to prevent microplastics from entering the environment.
The Government's long-awaited announcement comes as Labour pledged to ban the wipes if the party wins the General Election, which is set to take place later this year.
The party's environment spokesman Steve Reed told The Mail on Sunday: 'Labour will take action and ban the sale of plastic wet wipes. They clog up our sewers, kill wildlife and lead to sewage backing up into people's homes.' He added: 'I would like to salute the Mail's trail-blazing campaign for galvanising the nation to act against the plastic waste that is littering our streets and choking our rivers and oceans.'
Wet wipes and rubbish on a beach (stock image). In a major victory for the Mail's Turn The Tide On Plastic campaign, Ministers are expected to introduce 'world-leading' draft legislation this summer to outlaw the supply and sale of wet wipes containing plastic
Therese Coffey – Mr Barclay's predecessor as Environment Secretary – unveiled a six-week public consultation on a ban, saying 'wet wipes containing plastic are unnecessary and are polluting our environment'
Labour's environment spokesman Steve Reed told The Mail on Sunday: 'Labour will take action and ban the sale of plastic wet wipes. They clog up our sewers, kill wildlife and lead to sewage backing up into people's homes'
Tory Ministers have faced criticism for previously threatening a ban, but then delaying action.
Last October, Therese Coffey – Mr Barclay's predecessor as Environment Secretary – unveiled a six-week public consultation on a ban, saying 'wet wipes containing plastic are unnecessary and are polluting our environment'. But critics questioned the need for a further public consultation as a previous survey in 2021 found 96 per cent of respondents agreed with a ban.
However, it is understood Mr Barclay will this week finally give the green light to detailed legislation for England this summer. That is expected to be followed by similar action from the devolved authorities in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales by the autumn.
Mr Barclay is expected to announce an 18-month transition before the new law takes effect to allow businesses time to prepare.
Labour plans involve a phased ban on the manufacture, supply and sale of wipes containing plastic. The legislation would be part of the party's wider plans to clean up waterways and to put failing water companies under 'special measures' to force them to stop illegal sewage dumping.
Plastic wipes contribute to 90 per cent of sewer blockages, and over time can break down into microplastics which are harmful to human health.
