NDM6898 Gareth Bennett (South Wales Central)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Notes the report of Water UK 'Wipes in Sewer Blockage Study'.

2. Regrets that, across Wales, there are around 2,000 sewer blockages every month, many of which are caused by people flushing consumable items like cotton buds and wet wipes down the toilet.

3. Calls on the Welsh Government to widen work on extended producer responsibility beyond food and drink to include consumable items such as wet wipes and cotton buds.

4. Calls on the UK Government to legislate for regulatory testing of products such as wet wipes and cotton buds; and if such products fail the new Water industry flushability test, producers must package those products with a clear, bold and prominent ‘do not flush’ logo.

Water UK - Wipes in Sewer Blockage Study

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 - Julie James (Swansea West)

Delete point 3 and replace with:

Notes the Welsh Government’s work with water companies to explore options to address the problem of consumable items causing blockages when flushed down the toilet.

Amendment 2 - Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Calls on the Welsh Government to work with Dŵr Cymru and other agencies to improve public awareness in terms of consumable materials in order to reduce blockages in the sewerage system.

Amendment 3 - Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Calls on the Welsh Government to explore the possibilities of using new taxes to reduce the use of consumable materials.