local Assembly Member Mike Hedges AM has supported Welsh Government proposals to introduce a ban on microbeads in Wales.

local Assembly Member Mike Hedges AM has supported Welsh Government proposals to introduce a ban on microbeads in Wales.


The ban will apply to the supply and manufacture of ‘rinse-off’ personal care products which contain plastic microbeads.
Plastic microbeads are a common ingredient in many hand cleansers, face scrubs, toothpastes, shower gels, cosmetics and other personal care products. When washed down the drain, they are too small to be filtered out in sewage treatment systems, so a proportion enter the marine environment, causing harm to marine life.
The ban will make it an offence to manufacture any rinse-off personal care products which contain plastic microbeads. It will also be an offence to supply rinse-off personal care products which contain microbeads.
The ban will come into force on 30 June.
Mike Hedges AM said:
“Microbeads are harmful to our oceans and are completely unnecessary. This ban is about stopping these pollutants from entering our seas and harming sea life.”
“We are working hard in Wales to reduce waste and our record as the best recycling nation in the UK is one to be proud of.”
“I also welcome Welsh Government plans to develop water refill points at key points along our Wales Coast Path, helping reduce further the amount of plastic entering our seas”
“We can all do our bit and I would urge residents in Swansea East to consider their use of single use plastics”