Spain to ban flushing wet wipes? Manufacturers to pay

The Spanish government has come up with a plan to address the harmful environmental impact of wet wipes. It also wants to find funding to remove their residue from the environment. A draft royal decree has just been published, which proposes a ban on flushing wet wipes down the toilet. There are also plans to impose fees on manufacturers for waste disposal.

€230 million a year – that’s how much flushing wet wipes costs Spaniards

The high costs borne by local governments, administrative penalties for environmental pollution, and cleaning charges are the main reasons why the Spanish government is seeking effective solutions. According to the Spanish Association of Water and Wastewater, the cost amounts to as much as €230 million per year.

Spain wants to shift part of these costs onto manufacturers. Companies placing wet wipes on the market will be required to pay not only for cleaning, transport, and waste disposal, but also for educational activities. The main goal of the regulatory changes is to raise public awareness and demonstrate how harmful flushing wet wipes down the toilet really is. As representatives of the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge put it: Educating people and raising awareness are always key elements.

Wet wipe residues that end up in aquatic environments are a serious problem. These types of waste are among the top ten most frequently found items on beaches in European Union countries.

Biodegradable? Usually only in name

The ban on flushing wet wipes down the toilet will not apply to products that are fully biodegradable and made from natural raw materials. In practice, however, such solutions are rare. As the authors of the draft point out: Even wet wipes made from natural, chemically unmodified polymers have a significant impact on the environment and on the functioning of sewer networks and treatment systems. Because they do not fully decompose, they can cause blockages in sewers, reduce water retention, and contribute to sewage overflows—especially during heavy rainfall.

Currently, there are no uniform standards defining the characteristics that flushable wet wipes should have. Research conducted by Ryerson University showed that none of the tested wipes labeled as flushable fully broke down. This is why shaping proper user behavior is so important – emphasizing that flushing wipes is not as safe or harmless to the environment as it may seem.

Ban on flushing wet wipes – will other countries follow?

Spain is not the only country trying to regulate the management of single-use wipes. The United Kingdom has similar plans, where such products in the sewage system are a serious problem – both environmental and economic. Experts at the University of Reading have estimated that 93% of blockages in sewer networks are caused by wipes. Increasing manufacturer responsibility for the consequences of flushing wet wipes is one of the British government’s projects. Another involves introducing a special Fine to Flush certification for plastic-free products.

The changes to Spanish law are intended to align with the UN’s 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and EU regulations on reducing the use of single-use plastic products. These rules also apply to other EU member states, including Poland. It is therefore possible that similar restrictions will need to be implemented in Poland as well.