They block sewers and are flushed into our rivers, but action is at last being taken against wet wipes
Would you like to appear on our site? We offer sponsored articles and advertising to put you in front of our readers. Find out more.The sale of wet wipes containing plastic has been banned by the UK government. Wipes discharged into rivers with untreated sewage can accumulate pollutants and break down into harmful microplastics. In a 2015-20 survey, on average 20 wipes were found per 100m of beach across the UK. Retailers have 18 months to comply with the law.
Angling Trust has welcomed the legislation but urges the government to address problems caused by non-plastic wipes that block sewers and “persist in the environment”. It says labelling should change, removing terms like “flushable” that “encourage harmful consumer behaviour”.
Highland Council has rejected a controversial pump storage hydro scheme that conservationists warned could devastate migrating salmon
The Environment Agency has launched a critical study into the state of salmon on the River Itchen, aiming to improve fish passage