A Labour Party MP is proposing a new law banning the use of plastics in flushable toilet wipes because of concerns that they will cause an “ecological disaster.”
Fleur Anderson, MP for Putney, Roehampton and Southfields, emphasized the fact that 90% of the 11 billion flushable toilet wipes used in the UK each year contain plastics-leading to “incalculable damage to our water system and marine environment.”
Ms. Anderson said: “As a mother of four, I fully understand the pressures parents are under and the difficulties that may arise when trying to reduce plastic products and make the right choices for the environment.”
“I know that parents want to do the right thing. What I want to say is that we can make it easier for them and everyone who depends on wet wipes every day.”
Wet wipes—whether they are baby wipes and flushable toilet wipes, cleansing wipes or personal cleansing wipes—are a quick and easy way to clean, remove makeup, or clean after changing diapers, but they are not always an environmentally friendly choice.
Should you rinse them off after using them-or should you use a different treatment?
In general, you should not flushable toilet wipes down the toilet, even if the packaging claims that they are flushable.
The only exception to this rule is if products are marked as “washable” by Water UK-which means they do not contain any plastic and will decompose in the sewer.
Wet wipes must be rigorously tested for their washability by technical experts from the Water Research Center to obtain this certification.
Some of the flushable toilet wipes that have received the “Flushable” mark include Aldi Saxon Soft flushable toilet wipes, Andrex Washlet series, and Natracare.
We use 11 billion wipes each year in the UK, 90% of which contain plastic.This has caused immeasurable damage to our water system and marine environment.Please support my ten-minute rule bill on November 2nd #BanPlasticInWetWipes.@mcsuk @Thames21 @WaterUK @GreenAllianceUK pic.twitter.com/sasSm1vqXu
You can find a list of products certified as “Fine To Flush” on its website.
Flushing other types of wipes that do not have this certification may clog the drain and eventually cause problems elsewhere in the water system.
In addition to the “cellulite” that has plagued sewers in recent years, the plastic in wet wipes can also be harmful.
After treatment, it will decompose and turn into microplastics, which can be ingested by wild animals and cause pollution.-And access to the water supply and food chain.
If the wipes you use do not have the “Fine To Flush” logo, the safest way to dispose of them is to put them in the trash can.
If you want to make your own contribution to the environment, you can consider reducing the use of flushable toilet wipes or switching to a more natural, biodegradable brand, such as one of the brands listed below.
Some of the listed are also compostable-this means that if you have a compost bin for household waste, you can add them to your own compost bin.
Or you can try to make it yourself, using paper towels, bleach and water-if you want to make a reusable cloth, you can also use a kitchen cloth.
Although many wet wipes contain plastic, there are also environmentally friendly alternatives that do not contain plastic, which are less harmful to the environment when they begin to decompose.
As with all flushable toilet wipes, you should still discard them in the trash can unless they are certified as washable.
Cheeky Panda-All Cheeky Panda products, including baby wipes and cleansing wipes, are made of bamboo and water, and are 100% biodegradable and compostable.
Aldi Mamia-plastic-free, biodegradable, a pack of 64 ordinary (non-sensitive) wipes is only 52 pence, they are a good choice for people on a tight budget.
Simple—All of Simple’s flushable toilet wipes are now made from naturally degradable, sustainable source plant fibers—and the packaging is also recyclable.
Post time: Dec-23-2021