Welsh Water has called on the Welsh government to include wet wipes within its proposed ban on single-use plastics.
Most customers (84 per cent) supported the ban on plastic-containing wipes and a further 94 per cent said wet wipes should be made without plastic in them.
The devolved government is consulting on the proposal to stop single-use plastics and has included wet wipes as a future consideration but has not formally recognised them in the initial stage.
The company carried out a customer survey to gauge support for the measures to protect sewers and waterways from blockages and plastic pollution. It showed 60 per cent of billpayers support reducing the number of wipes flushed away, and 90 per cent say people should never dispose of non-flushable wipes in the toilet.
Blockages from wet wipes cost Welsh Water around £5 million a year and cause 20,000 blockages. Welsh Water has suggested a ban could save the company, and customers, around £3 million.
Steve Wilson, managing director of wastewater services, said: “We want these plastic wipes to be replaced with an alternative, sustainable biodegradable material. Wipes with plastic can cause huge damage to customers’ homes and to the environment we value so much.”
This week sees the start of Unblocktober – a campaign by Lanes Group to educate people about the problems caused by disposing of non-flushables in the wrong way. Last year thousands of people pledged to change their flushing habits for the month, which organisers said they hope to eclipse this year.
A ‘Fine to Flush’ certification has been developed for wipes that break down in the sewer system without causing blocks or depositing plastic in waterways.