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Yorkshire Water hails decision to ban plastic wet wipes

Tuesday, 26 May 2026 10:43

Yorkshire Water has shared the issues flushing wet wipes can have.

Yorkshire Water has welcomed new legislation banning plastic in wet wipes from next year.

The government has confirmed that from May 2027, wet wipes containing plastic will no longer be sold in the UK as part of efforts to protect the environment and reduce sewer blockages.

Yorkshire Water says wet wipes are one of the main causes of problems in the wastewater network because they do not break down in the same way as toilet paper.

A spokesperson said:

“Wet wipes don’t break down like toilet paper. Even if they are labelled ‘flushable’, many contain microplastics, so they stick together and get snagged in the sewers.”

According to research from UK Water Industry Research, wet wipes are linked to nearly half of all sewer blockages, with wastewater teams often spending hours clearing pipes and drains.

Despite the upcoming ban, Yorkshire Water is continuing to urge people not to flush wet wipes and instead dispose of them in household bins.

The company’s message to customers remains: “Bin it, don’t block it.”

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