Long the scourge of water companies for blocking pipes, a ban on the sale of wet wipes made of plastic will be signed into law later today.
The new rules will come into force in 2027 and will bring England into line with legislation across the rest of the UK.
Plastic wipes don't disintegrate when flushed down the toilet, so when oil and fat congeal on them, so-called fatbergs form in sewers, which water companies say cost them £200m a year to clear.
Most of the wipes that are sold in the UK are now made of non-plastic materials but the government and water companies say they should not be labelled as "flushable" because they can still cause blockages.
The wet wipe manufacturers contacted by the BBC said their non-plastic "flushable" wipes have been thoroughly tested and comply with all the rules.
