Plastic Waste in the Tidal Thames

Emma Best AM moved, and Zack Polanski AM seconded the following motion:

“This Assembly is concerned that so many wet wipes and other plastic waste ends up in the tidal Thames.

This Assembly also notes that recent studies have found that depending on the species of fish, between 20% and 75% in the Thames Estuary have microplastics in their digestive systems.

This Assembly notes the work by the Port of London Authority, Thames21, Thames Water and Tideway to tackle this issue through awareness campaigns, foreshore clean ups and floating litter collectors.

This Assembly notes the Unflushables report published by the London Assembly Environment Committee in 2018, which identified actions to tackle the full range of single-use plastic products that are inappropriately flushed and are ending up in the tidal Thames.

This Assembly supports the MP for Putney’s private members’ bill, Plastics (Wet Wipes) Bill, which seeks to prohibit the manufacture and sale of wet wipes containing plastic. This Assembly therefore calls on the Mayor of London and the Government to urgently work together to ensure that retailers follow Tesco’s lead and ban the production and sale of plastic wet wipes.

In addition, this Assembly calls on the Mayor and Chair of Assembly to write to the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs seeking urgent recommendations in response to the Commonly Littered Single Use Plastic Items consultation, alongside seeking an industry-wide commitment from the British Retailers Consortium to establish a more ambitious commitment of 2032 for eliminating avoidable plastic waste.”

Following debate and upon being put to a vote, the motion was agreed unanimously.