The sale and production of plastic wet wipes must be banned

Recent studies have found that depending on the species, between 20% and 75% of fish in the Thames Estuary have microplastics in their digestive systems.

Today the Assembly agreed a motion calling on the Mayor of London and the Government to urgently work together to ensure that retailers follow Tesco’s lead and ban the production and sale of plastic wet wipes.

Emma Best AM, who proposed the motion, said:

“The so-called ‘wet-wipe island’ found recently in Thames is an unacceptable disaster that must be urgently addressed.

“I’m pleased this motion was unanimously passed by the Assembly, which calls for the Mayor to tackle this by working with London Assembly members and the Government to secure an industry-wide commitment to eliminate avoidable plastic waste.”

Zack Polanski AM, who seconded the motion, said:

“Single-use plastics and disposable products end up in our rivers and oceans, sit in landfills or are incinerated, inflicting irreparable damage on our environment.

“2032 is ten years away and a long time to wait for eliminating avoidable plastic waste and a ban on non-flushable wipes.

“The 2018 Unflushables report from the London Assembly Environment Committee was clear on how to properly dispose of these products: London has to learn to 'bin it and not flush it'.”

The full text of the motion is:

This Assembly is concerned that so many wet wipes and other plastic waste ends up in the tidal Thames.

This Assembly also notes that recent studies have found that depending on the species of fish, between 20% and 75% in the Thames Estuary have microplastics in their digestive systems.

This Assembly notes the work by the Port of London Authority, Thames21, Thames Water and Tideway to tackle this issue through awareness campaigns, foreshore clean ups and floating litter collectors.

This Assembly notes the Unflushables report published by the London Assembly Environment Committee in 2018, which identified actions to tackle the full range of single-use plastic products that are inappropriately flushed and are ending up in the tidal Thames.

This Assembly supports the MP for Putney’s private members’ bill, Plastics (Wet Wipes) Bill, which seeks to prohibit the manufacture and sale of wet wipes containing plastic.

This Assembly therefore calls on the Mayor of London and the Government to urgently work together to ensure that retailers follow Tesco’s lead and ban the production and sale of plastic wet wipes.

In addition, this Assembly calls on the Mayor and Chair of Assembly to write to the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs seeking urgent recommendations in response to the Commonly Littered Single Use Plastic Items consultation, alongside seeking an industry-wide commitment from the British Retailers Consortium to establish a more ambitious commitment of 2032 for eliminating avoidable plastic waste.