After scientists noticed the flow of the river Thames had literally changed course to wrap around an overflowing mound of flushed wet wipes, the Independent reported that the UK government proposed to ban their use completely and the world went nuts.
From make-up enthusiasts, to care workers, to anyone who has experienced the joy of having to clean up a full scale poonami in an impossibly small public bathroom – current users were not best pleased.
Others, however, piously reminded the rest of us that there was life before the wet wipe. As someone who once saw a friend return from such a baby-related bathroom incident akin to a solider coming back from war, I beg to disagree. We parents have seen some serious $hit – let us have our wet wipes.
DEFRA has since released a statement clarifying that there is no such ban in place as of yet (their plan was a 25 year one after all) so for now we can all rest easy. However, the debate it prompted was an interesting one.
Some plucky individuals pointed out that surely modern technology could come up with more ecologically friendly solutions. The truth is they have – but many critics out there say they don’t work – and frankly at a mark-up of 50% it feels like yet another tax on being green. And if we’re honest, it wasn't the use of wet wipes that caused the issues that prompted the debate in the first place.
From all accounts the problem is not necessarily the wipes themselves but the fact that some rapscallions have been flushing the darn things down the loo. So perhaps what we need first of all is a crackdown on the idiots who can’t read those little signs above the commode…
Thames Water strongly advise against flushing wet wipes here in a neat-o-keen infographic that turns dark pretty quick. Not one to scan over breakfast…
Now most of us know we shouldn’t flush wet wipes as they clog the pipes. The reason is simple. Wet wipes contain plastic – it’s what makes them so darn useful - it helps them keep their structure and it’s what is causing them to block up our already overstrained water pipes. Anyone being supplied by Thames Water a couple of months ago knows just how fragile those pipes truly are…
Amongst others, City To Sea saw this coming, and made a video highlighting the concerns last year #dontbelievethewipe. Some companies, like Andrex, say they’ve made a flushable wipe however users remain sceptical. Apparently the way to tell if a wipe is truly biodegradable is to seal it in a bottle of water and shake it shake it shake it for a good minute. If it’s gone, you’re good to flush. If not, bin it. A fun science experiment to play with your toddler if ever I saw one…
DEFRA has said its plan to ultimately weed wet wipes out of circulation is not one that will take the form of a flat out ban but instead will “focus [on working] with manufacturers and water companies to develop a product that does not contain plastic and can be safely flushed.”
Even as a hard core poonami veteran, this seems reasonable to me. Real money just isn’t being thrown at this sort of problem right now. Hopefully this new legislation will mean that manufacturers in the future will have no choice but to be greener, without them actually taking away the sometimes critical convenience that is the wet wipe.
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