Date Wales will ban common household product confirmed
Date Wales will ban common household product confirmed
The aim is to reduce environmental harm caused by polluting plastic wet wipes
Across the UK, wet wipes are flushed down toilets into the sewers
(Image: Welsh Water )
Wet wipes containing plastic will be banned in Wales from next year to reduce the environmental harm caused by pollution. From December 18, 2026, it will be an offence in Wales to supply – or offer to supply – wet wipes containing plastic.
The Welsh Government has seen through the ban after the Senedd unanimously agreed regulations. Wales' deputy First Minister Huw Irranca-Davies, told the Senedd: "There should be no place for wet wipes amongst the pebbles and the sand and the seaweed on our beautiful Welsh coastline."
He said a survey had found 22% of people admitted to having flushed wet wipes into the sewerage system and a large volume of wet wipes – which often contain harmful plastic – enter the natural environment due to inappropriate disposal.
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He stressed an exemption will be in place if they are designed or manufactured for care and treatment because some people rely on medical-grade wet wipes that contain plastic.
Plastic wet wipes have been added to a 2023 law prohibiting a list of single-use plastic products.
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Mr Irranca-Davies said: "This pollution, as we all know, is visible, its impact is tangible, and it's long-lasting.
"Taking decisive action will encourage manufacturers, retailers and consumers of the need to continue our shift towards reusable and non-plastic products."
He told Senedd members the ban will not extend to business-to-business supply, only covering supply to consumers as with other single-use plastics.
"Wet wipes for specific industrial use, where plastic-free alternatives are unsuitable or do not exist, are not included. But we will encourage these sectors to innovate."
It was backed by Conservative MS Janet Finch-Saunders who said: "It's not often that I say this but thank you very, very much… for bringing forward your statement today and indeed this ban.
"I only wish it was coming in December of this year but we have to be grateful."
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Mr Irranca-Davies said the 18-month transition period will allow manufacturers time to adapt their business as he welcomed the cross-party support for the ban.
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