The UK Government has published draft legislation proposing a ban on wet wipes containing plastic, following a Commons debate led by Putney’s Fleur Anderson.
The legislation, formally known as the Environmental Protection (Wet Wipes Containing Plastic) (England) Regulations 2025, will be considered in the House of Commons on November 3 and the House of Lords on November 10.
Every year, the UK uses an estimated 11 billion wet wipes, with Thames Water alone clearing 75,000 blockages annually, where wipes are the number one cause — costing the company £18 million each year.
Fleur Anderson MP said: “This is a huge step forward for our environment and our communities.
“Wet wipes may seem small, but their impact is massive.
“I’ve seen the damage first-hand at Beckton and Mogden, and on the Thames where ‘Wet Wipe Island’, a 180-tonne mass the size of two tennis courts, literally shifted the river’s course.”
If approved, the legislation will take effect in spring 2027.
The ban would ensure all retailers operate under the same rules.
Major chains like Boots and Tesco have already stopped stocking plastic-based wipes voluntarily, but a legal ban would require all competitors to follow suit.
Emma Hardy MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Water and Flooding, said: “Fleur Anderson has had a high-profile campaign to ban wet wipes that contain plastic, including tabling a Private Member’s Bill in November 2021.
“My hon. friend has been instrumental in getting us to this point.
“Without her contribution, we probably would not be at the stage we are now.”
Featured image: Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and Fleur Anderson MP. Credit: Jonathan Quin, Fleur Anderson
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