Public urged to bin wet wipes as 22% admit to flushing them

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Environment and Energy, Resource Management, Sustainability

Water companies across the UK have joined forces to urge the public to stop flushing wet wipes, in a new national campaign to get people to "Bin the Wipe".

According to Water UK, who launched the campaign, 75% of drain blockages are caused by people flushing wet wipes down the toilet.

Of those who admitted to flushing wet wipes, an overwhelming majority said that protecting the environment was an important issue to them (89%), as well as protecting animals (91%) and the pollution of rivers and seas (87%).

71% of those surveyed said they still use wet wipes today, despite 83% of people saying that using sustainable products was important to them.

Our national ‘Bin the Wipe’ campaign aims to encourage people to break the habit of flushing wet wipes down the toilet.

Commenting on the campaign, Peter Jenkins, Director of Campaigns at Water UK, said: "Today's research has revealed that an alarming number of people continue to flush wet wipes down their loo, even when they know the detrimental effect this can have on issues they care about, such as the environment.

"Our national ‘Bin the Wipe’ campaign aims to encourage people to break the habit of flushing wet wipes down the toilet. By binning wet wipes instead, you can safeguard against blockages in pipes or even flooding in your home, while also helping to protect the environment."

The research also found that men are more likely to flush wet wipes than women – 27% of men said they flushed wet wipes compared with 18% of women.

Young people aged 18-24 were the worst offenders, with 44% admitting to flushing wipes, compared to just 12% of those over the age of 65.

I’ve been campaigning for years to ban plastic in wet wipes as well as highlight the need to bin, never flush.

Fleur Anderson, MP for Putney, Roehampton & Southfields, commented: "I’m delighted that Water UK are launching their campaign to let people know that they must always Bin the Wipe. This is the first time all the water companies have come together to raise awareness of this really important environmental issue.

"I know that millions of people don't currently know about the damage that is done by flushing wet wipes, and I’ve been campaigning for years to ban plastic in wet wipes as well as highlight the need to bin, never flush."

Savanta surveyed 2,320 UK adults online between 27-29th January and Water UK says data were weighted to be nationally representative of all UK adults by age, gender region and social grade.

Tagged Environment, sewage, Wet Wipes