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Written question asked by Kerry McCarthy (Labour) on Monday, 18 March 2024, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 21 March 2024 (named day). It was answered by Robbie Moore (Conservative) on Monday, 25 March 2024 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Water Treatment: Microplastics

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of wastewater treatment networks in filtering out microplastics.

Answer

Government recently funded an external rapid evidence assessment to better understand the costs, benefits, and efficiencies of installing filters in washing machines. The filters aim to trap textile microplastic fibres during the laundry cycle and before discharge to sewer networks and wastewater treatment works. The assessment concluded further evidence was needed to determine how to avert additional costs incurred by consumers of new washing machines with filters, and the consumer’s sustainable disposal of used filters.

A water industry investigation of the levels and types of microplastics entering a range of UK wastewater treatment works reported that conventional treatment can remove 99% of microplastics by number and 99.5% by mass.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
19009
Session
2023-24
Subjects
Water treatment Microplastics
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk