Clearing out "Wet Wipe Island": Initial mass removal from the River Thames begins to tackle London's 180-ton wipes issue
The River Thames, a cherished part of London's landscape, has been battling an unexpected enemy - plastic wet wipes. Approximately 3.8 billion of these wipes are removed from Thames Water's sewage network each year, contributing significantly to pollution in the river[2][3].
A notable accumulation, dubbed the "wet wipe island," formed along a 250-metre stretch near Hammersmith Bridge. Weighing around 180 tonnes, it covers an area equivalent to two tennis courts and is up to 1 metre deep in places[1][4]. This debris results from wipes flushed down toilets and partly released in untreated sewage during heavy rain[1][4].
Efforts to combat this environmental issue are underway. A major clean-up project, initiated by the Port of London Authority in collaboration with Thames Water, has mechanically removed the "wet wipe island" and other plastic debris from the river[1][3][4].
Thames Water is also taking action, with ongoing efforts to remove 3.8 billion wipes annually from its network, at a cost of about £18 million yearly[2][3]. Additionally, Thames Water has recently announced a £1.8 billion further investment aimed at improving river health across London[2][3].
The completion and operation of the £4.6 billion Thames Tideway Tunnel, designed to reduce sewage discharges into the Thames by 95%, is another step towards reducing wet wipe pollution[3].
Environmental groups, such as Thames21, are also playing a crucial role. They have advocated for a ban on plastic-containing wet wipes, encouraging producers to develop plastic-free alternatives, and urging water companies to improve screening and sewage infrastructure[2][3]. Thames21 and its volunteers have collected over 140,000 wet wipes from the river area over eight years, helping to raise public awareness and influence government policies[3][4].
Thames21 is also reminding the public not to flush wipes but to dispose of them in bins instead[2][3]. Chris Coode, CEO at Thames21, has expressed support for a ban on plastic wet wipes[4]. Thames21 is also calling for producers to invest in plastic-free alternatives to wet wipes and urging water companies to increase their investment in screening to prevent wet wipes and other sanitary waste containing plastic from entering the environment[2][3].
In addition, Thames Water is planning to invest £9.5 billion over the next five years to upgrade wastewater assets to meet the demands of population growth and climate change[4]. These efforts aim to significantly curb plastic wet wipe pollution in the River Thames environment.
The combined approach includes mechanical removal of accumulated waste, infrastructure investments to prevent pollution, policy advocacy for banning plastics in wet wipes, and public education to reduce flushing of such products down toilets. These efforts are a promising step towards a cleaner, healthier River Thames.
References:
- The Guardian
- BBC News
- Thames21
- ITV News
- The environmental issue of plastic wet wipes polluting the River Thames has prompted numerous initiatives, including a campaign by Thames21 for a ban on plastic-containing wet wipes and the development of plastic-free alternatives.
- Beyond mechanical removal efforts, Thames Water is making substantial investments to decrease wet wipe pollution, amounting to over £18 million yearly on removal and £9.5 billion over five years for wastewater asset upgrades, with additional strategies addressing infrastructure, policy, and public education.
- To support a cleaner, healthier River Thames, Thames21 emphasizes the importance of disposing of wet wipes in bins instead of flushing them down toilets, and advocates for increased investments in screening by water companies to prevent plastic waste, such as wet wipes, from entering the environment.
- In their ongoing efforts to combat pollution, environmental groups like Thames21 and the Port of London Authority are collaborating with Thames Water to improve the health of the River Thames through significant investments in infrastructure and policy changes, ultimately leading to sustainable living and a more eco-friendly lifestyle, benefiting not only the habitat and wildlife but also the broader aspects of life like home and garden, fashion and beauty, and lower-impact climate change solutions.
