Chris Loder, MP for West Dorset, has expressed his support for a consultation on the banning of wet wipes containing plastic. The proposed ban forms part of the Government’s ongoing work to ensure there is tougher enforcement across the water system, helping tackle plastic and microplastic pollution and improve water quality.
Mr Loder has written to the consultation to make his representations in favour of the ban. In his letter, the local MP said: ‘As the Member of Parliament for West Dorset, my constituency is fortunate to include much of the Jurassic Coast UNESCO World Heritage Site looking out to the ecologically significant Lyme Bay. Both of which sustain vital tourism and fishing industries and the livelihoods of many thousands of people from West Dorset.”
He added: “These unique and special assets are dependent on human care and caution, with particular regard to water treatment and mitigation of water pollution. A ban on plastic, non-biodegradable wet wipes would help mitigate the impacts of peak volume in the sewage network and reduce the likelihood of blockages which so often leads to sewage pollution and emergency sewage discharges. Such action also has the potential to reduce the financial costs of wastewater treatment and the ecological cost of pollution in our rivers and seas.”
Mr Loder has been a vocal supporter of measures to ban single-use plastics. The MP has recently been directly involved in the passage of a wide-reaching ban on single-use plastic, which was enforced on 1st October.
More information about the consultation can be found here: https://consult.defra.gov.uk/wet-wipes-1/wet-wipes-containing-plastic/
