Wet Wipes Labelling

DAVID Burton-Sampson is calling for clear labelling on wet wipes in parliament after securing a debate in the House of Commons.
The MP for Southend West and Leigh wants to see a total ban on the labelling of wet wipes as flushable.
“They do not break down completely and that can block sewers, pollute waterways and harm marine life. Although wet wipes are a household item, they can cause problems.” he said
“As part of our water summits, we have spoken to Anglian Water who estimate that half a million wet wipes are flushed into the east of England’s sewer systems every day.”
Mr Burton-Sampson supports the commitment by the Government to ban the sale and supply of wet wipes that contain plastic fibres, but he also believes that wet wipes labelled as flushable are misleading the public.
He added: “I want to challenge the message that it is fine to flush. According to research more than 90% of fatbergs found in our sewers are made up of wet wipes.
“They cause blockages that can result in flooding and environmental damage.
“Consumers are confused by labelling telling them that wipes are flushable. I want to encourage the simpler message that wet wipes shouldn’t be labelled flushable at all. That is easy to understand.
“I want to make it clear that you can still use wet wipes, but simply be aware of the potential damage you can do if you flush them. That is my message.”
Industry reports show that most wet wipes contain plastic fibres and 11 billion of them are used per year.
Mr Burton-Sampson added that he will urge the government to ensure that companies change their labelling to help end the damage to our environment, in his Ten Minute Rule Bill in the autumn.
He said: “Southend’s coastline is something to be proud of as well as the foundation of our economy. We must all do everything we can to ensure our seas, beaches and rivers remain clean and safe for generations to come.”
Picture: Mr Burton-Sampson being shown wet wipe debris at the Anglian Water treatment plant.
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