Scotland looks set to be the next part of the UK to ban wet wipes containing plastic. The Scottish Government has vowed to work with colleagues in Westminster, where they are to be outlawed for England.
Last week, the UK environment minister Therese Coffey announced a ban for England will come into force in the next 12 months. A similar move in Scotland would signal victory for a Sunday Mail joint campaign with Scottish Water and David Attenborough’s award-winning Scottish cameraman Doug Allan.
He urged governments north and south of the border to speed up the implementation of the ban. Allan said: “The announcement from Therese Coffey that wet wipes containing plastic will be prohibited in England is a big step forward and very, very welcome.
“Well done to the Sunday Mail and their campaign. But do we really have to wait until next year and the results of another consultation for the legislation to be passed?”
Since last February, we’ve been calling for an outright ban on the toxic wipes, which pollute beaches, kill wildlife and clog up our water and sewage systems. The Scottish Government has been carrying out work to ban certain single-use plastics and have now said they will work with the UK Government on banning wet wipes here.
Allan added: “In 2018, a similar promise was made but we still don’t have the outright ban. Scotland has been so progressive in its environmental awareness, it’s frustrating that we can’t move faster than Westminster on this one, so let’s keep up the pressure on this crucial issue.”
Ninety per cent of wet wipes contain plastics that take more than 100 years to break down. Millions of them are then washed up on river banks and beaches, creating disgusting eyesores and destroying the natural habitats of birds, fish and other marine life.
Even when they finally do break down, they go on to form micro-plastic particles that are ingested by animals and can ultimately end up in the human food chain.
Non-plastic wipes that meet the official “Fine to Flush” standard are now available and the campaign has called for all others to be removed from supermarket shelves.
Brian Lironi, Scottish Water’s director of corporate affairs, said: “This is a great result for the environment, and for customers whose homes and communities have been flooded as a result of sewer blockages. Taking wipes containing plastic out of the sewer network will significantly reduce sewer blockages, sewer flooding and environmental pollution.
“We are delighted the UK Government has decided to ban wipes containing plastic and look forward to seeing the new legislation come into force. We repeat our calls for governments in Scotland and Westminster to work together to make sure the ban comes into effect as soon as possible.”
Similar proposals are being looked at by the devolved government in Wales.
A Scottish Government spokesman said: “Wet wipes containing plastics and other inappropriately flushed items play a significant part in sewer blockages and are a major source of pollution in our seas and on our beaches and we remain concerned at their damaging impact on wildlife.
“Last year, Scotland became the first part of the UK to implement a ban on some of the most problematic single-use plastic products but it is clear more needs to be done. The Scottish Government has been pressing the UK Government to take swifter action on this issue, so we welcome today’s news.
“We look forward to working with the UK Government and the other devolved administrations on what would be a major step to improving the health of our marine environment.”
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