Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Wet Wipes: Plastic

Thursday 23 June 2022 · 5 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 5 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Fleur Anderson asked the Minister about banning wet wipes containing plastic and the publication date for the call for evidence results.
  • The Minister emphasized the need for scientific accuracy before announcing any bans to avoid causing other problems.
  • The Minister stated that 93% of sewerage blockages are caused by wet wipes which then attract fat, creating fatbergs.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Fleur Anderson Lab Putney
Environment
Context

The issue of billions of wet wipes containing plastic being used across the country, causing environmental damage and blocking sewers.

Question

If he will make it his policy to ban the sale of wet wipes containing plastic. Billions of wet wipes containing plastic are still being used across the country, causing environmental damage and blocking our sewers. The consultation finished in February and there is still no ban in sight. Will the Minister meet me to discuss the next steps towards achieving a ban?

Answer from Rebecca Pow

There was a huge response to the call for evidence, and we are working our way through the details. We have to make sure that if a ban is brought in, it does not have knock-on effects that will cause similar problems. Even though other wet wipes might be deemed suitable to flush, they still get stuck in sewers, so we have to be mindful of that.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Meeting to discuss next steps towards a ban

How: Working Our Way Through The Details, Mindful Of Knock-On Effects

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Q2 Fleur Anderson Lab Putney
Science & Technology Environment
Context

The call for evidence to explore policy options for tackling wet wipes, including a possible ban on those that contain plastic.

Question

Could the Minister expand on that answer? When are the results of the call for evidence on the proposals to ban single-use plastics likely to be published?

Answer from Rebecca Pow

We have to get the science right. We must not jump out of the frying pan into the fire, so we are exploring all options and the science behind them before we make an announcement, but I assure him that it will be made shortly.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Publication date for results

How: Exploring All Options, Science Behind Proposals

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Q3 Andrew Bridgen Con
Environment
Context

The impact of wet wipes on the sewerage system, as seen at sewage works such as Budds Farm in Havant and Bishop's Waltham.

Question

Anyone who has visited a sewage works such as Budds Farm in Havant or Bishop's Waltham can see the impact of wet wipes on the sewerage system. What more can we do now to raise awareness of the issues among the public so that only the three Ps are flushed down the loo?

Answer from Rebecca Pow

It is all about comms and education. If one has to flush, one should look for the flushability logo. 93% of sewerage blockages are caused by wet wipes which then get fat stuck around them causing fatbergs.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Concrete measures to raise awareness

How: Comms And Education

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Q4 Flick Drummond Con
Environment
Context

Overflow discharges from water treatment works containing wet wipes, with the River Tame having a very high concentration of microplastics.

Question

The Minister will know that when there are overflow discharges into rivers from water treatment works, wet wipes are not filtered out. She will also know that the River Tame has a very high concentration of microplastics. It is of massive concern to me as secretary of the Friends of the Tame Valley, that trees along the riverbank are littered with wet wipes. What is the Minister doing, not only to get the message out about not flushing wet wipes down the toilet but to clean up our riverbanks so they do not look like a horrific scene from 'The Nightmare Before Christmas'?

Answer from Rebecca Pow

We are getting sewage overflows more frequently than we need because of blockages with wet wipes. We will come up with some suggestions for what we propose to do very shortly.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Cleaning up riverbanks and improving messaging

How: More Frequent Sewage Overflows, Suggestions For Proposals

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Q5 Andrew Gwynne Ind Gorton and Denton
Environment
Context

The issue of billions of wet wipes containing plastic being used across the country, causing environmental damage and blocking sewers.

Question

If he will make it his policy to ban the sale of wet wipes containing plastic. Billions of wet wipes containing plastic are still being used across the country, causing environmental damage and blocking our sewers. The consultation finished in February and there is still no ban in sight. Will the Minister meet me to discuss the next steps towards achieving a ban?

Answer from Rebecca Pow

There was a huge response to the call for evidence, and we are working our way through the details. We have to make sure that if a ban is brought in, it does not have knock-on effects that will cause similar problems. Even though other wet wipes might be deemed suitable to flush, they still get stuck in sewers, so we have to be mindful of that.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Meeting to discuss next steps towards a ban

How: Working Our Way Through The Details, Mindful Of Knock-On Effects

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