Marine pollution is a major issue for our seas and coastlines. Together with the rest of the UK we are taking positive action to reduce the amount of marine litter which ends up in our oceans.
Within our Marine Strategy, we have specific targets to reduce marine litter both on the coastline and in the water column.
We are fully committed to the UK wide ban on plastic microbeads in cosmetics and personal care products. Our public consultation on implementation and enforcement closed on 8 January 2018, and the summary of responses is also available.
We plan to introduce a microbeads ban on both the manufacture and the sale at the same time, on 30 June 2018.
Once the ban is in place, it will be a criminal offence for anyone to:
- manufacture
- sell, or
- offer to supply
any rinse-off cosmetic or personal care products which contain plastic microbeads in Wales. A copy of the DRAFT microbeads regulations is available below.
In recognition of the increasing need to address marine pollution we have been working with stakeholders to establish a Wales Clean Seas Partnership (WCSP).
Approximately 80% of the litter which ends up in the sea comes from land sources including through the water and waste systems. This takes many forms, including:
- plastic packaging
- single-use items
- takeaway containers
- drinks bottles
- cans items flushed down toilets
- general litter.
Follow the links to find out more on our long term strategic goals to reduce waste in Wales Towards Zero Waste and on the protection and quality of our environment and countryside.
