Plastic wet wipes have become a familiar blight. “This ban will put an end to plastic wet wipes which choke our sewers, litter our beaches and poison wildlife,” said environment secretary Emma Reynolds. A government consultation found that 95% of respondents backed a plastic wet wipe ban. Wet wipes are a major driver of the so-called fatbergs that clog UK sewers. Boots executive Steve Ager said the company had already removed plastic wipes from sale because “healthy communities need a healthy planet”.