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<p>The Government continues to review the regulatory framework for biosolids spread
to land to protect human health and the environment.</p><p> </p><p>The Government
has taken a range of steps to stop sources of plastics and microplastics entering
sewers and moving into biosolids, including:</p><p> </p><ul><li>We have already banned
microbeads in rinse-off personal care products and the Government has been working
at pace with devolved administrations to deliver a ban on wet wipes containing plastic.
We recently ran a consultation on this and a government response setting out more
information will be published in the spring.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>We have funded
research to examine wider sources of microplastics, including tyres and textiles.
Defra has also contributed to the design and development of the UK Water Industry
Research funded and led <a href="https://ukwir.org/cip3-information" target="_blank">Chemicals
Investigation Programme (CIP)</a> to improve our understanding of quantity and source
of contaminants, including microplastics, in biosolids. This research will help to
inform future policy.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>In Defra’s Plan for Water, there is
a commitment for industry and businesses to develop low cost, effective microfibre
filters in washing machines as a measure to reduce a primary source of microplastic
fibres to wastewater treatment and the wider environment and encourage their use.
Defra commissioned an evidence assessment to understand the efficiencies, costs and
benefits of installing filters in washing machines to trap microplastic fibres shredded
from clothing during washing cycles. The report showed that filters demonstrated a
range of efficiencies and costs associated with them. We recommended that filter manufacturers
collaborate with the washing machine industry to develop and implement standardised
tests to provide unequivocal performance data for the relevant government departments
to consider. We await industry’s proposals.</li></ul><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p>
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