19 November 2025
Rivers, lakes and beaches will be cleaner, and wildlife better protected, as the Government signed into law a ban on the sale of plastic wet wipes, marking a major step forward in tackling plastic pollution which devastates our waterways.
Wet wipes containing plastic are a growing source of pollution, with a recent survey showing an average of 20 wet wipes littering every 100 metres of beach across the UK. When flushed, they can break down into microplastics that poison wildlife and enter the food chain.
The ban follows overwhelming public support, with 95% of respondents to the Government consultation agreeing with the proposals.
While the new law targets wipes containing plastic, all wet wipes contribute to blockages and pollution when flushed. UK Water Industry Research found that wet wipes contribute to 94% of sewer blockages, which cost water companies around £200 million to fix each year - a cost that is ultimately passed on to households through their water bills.
The public can take action now by ensuring that any wet wipes, even if they are labelled as flushable, are put in the bin rather than flushed away, to reduce costly blockages and safeguard nature.
Water Minister Emma Hardy has written to manufacturers urging that product labelling for wet wipes reflects the Government's message that wet wipes should be binned and not flushed.
Plastic-free wet wipes are readily available, and several retailers have already stopped selling wet wipes containing plastic. Businesses will have until Spring 2027 to transition to the new rules.
(Source: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, 18 November 2025)
Read the full story on the GOV.UK website.
For more information on banned products, see 'Single-use plastics'.