Putney MP Hails Removal of Wet Wipe Island

180-tonnes of waste near Hammersmith Bridge altered course of river

Fleur Anderson (centre) with volunteers near Wet Wipe Island

August 8, 2025

Putney’s MP, Fleur Anderson has hailed a major environmental clean-up currently underway on the River Thames, as work begins to remove the notorious “Wet Wipe Island” near Hammersmith Bridge. The mass excavation, coordinated by the Port of London Authority (PLA) with support from Thames Water, marks the UK’s first large-scale removal of congealed wet wipes from a riverbed. The island, formed by an estimated 180 tonnes of plastic-laced wipes, has altered the river’s course and posed a threat to aquatic life along a 250-metre stretch of the tidal Thames.

The island, which is about the size of two tennis courts, is expected to take around a month to completely clear.

Ms Anderson described the clean-up as a “huge moment” after years of campaigning. “Wet Wipe Island hopefully is no more,” she said. “The ban I’ve introduced will mean 3.8 billion wipes removed from the network every year. A win for our waters, sewers and environment!”

Her campaign to ban plastic in wet wipes began in 2021 and has garnered cross-party support, as well as backing from environmental groups and retailers like Boots and Tesco, which have already removed plastic wet wipes from their shelves. Her efforts culminated in government legislation to ban plastic in wet wipes, a move she says will have a direct impact on the Thames, especially in areas like Putney where combined sewer overflows have long been a concern.

The clean-up operation will use an eight-tonne excavator to remove the island during low tide. St Paul’s School in Barnes is providing access to its grounds for the machinery, and the waste will be responsibly disposed of. The project is part of the PLA’s Clean Thames Manifesto, which aims for a pollution-free river ecosystem by 2050.

Thames21, the environmental charity whose volunteers have monitored the site since 2017, played a pivotal role in raising awareness and gathering data that influenced both government policy and the clean-up strategy. CEO Chris Coode praised the move, calling it “a crucial step towards protecting the health of the River Thames and its wildlife.”

The PLA’s Director of Sustainability, Grace Rawnsley, said, “For too long, ‘Wet Wipe Island’ in Hammersmith has been a source of environmental harm and an embarrassment to the capital. Inspired by the work of volunteers at Thames 21, we decided to take a lead in co-ordinating action to remove this unsightly and harmful mess.

“This is the first time anyone has sought to execute a mass, mechanical removal of wet wipes in this way.