Environmental campaigners celebrate retailer moves to stem tide of cotton bud sticks

Clean water campaigners the Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) and the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) are delighted with the news that six major retailers have agreed to implement new labelling on cotton bud packaging following persuasive action by both groups. The new measures will encourage customers to 'Think Before They Flush', and help prevent these items from washing up on the nation's beaches. There are now 10 major retailers currently using or about to phase-in the clearer labelling across the UK

After several months of pressure from the two campaign groups, retailers WAITROSE, THE CO-OP, ASDA, TESCO, MARKS AND SPENCER and THE BODY SHOP have agreed to ensure their new cotton bud packaging is much clearer when it comes to cotton bud stick disposal by including a statement and/or an image that tells users not to flush, but bin these items. SAS and MCS recommended 'Think Before You Flush' or 'Bag It and Bin It' statements.

SAS and MCS have also encouraged additional improvements from THE BODY SHOP, MARKS and SPENCER and THE CO-OP to move away from using plastic cotton bud sticks altogether and replace them with less harmful biodegradable cardboard stems. We would like to see all retailers taking this approach as a matter of urgency.

High street retailers that had already embraced the clearer labelling include SAINSBURYS, SOMERFIELD, MORRISONS and BOOTS.

Every day people are flushing thousands of sanitary products such as cotton bud sticks, condoms and razors down the toilet instead of putting them in a bin. Known in the business as sewage related debris or SRD, this is having a huge impact both in the sewage works and later in the marine environment.

Larger items such as sanitary towels and tampons block screens and clog pumps and pipes in sewage treatment works. This results in a reduction of flow, causing sewage to back up and overflow either untreated through a Combined Sewer and Storm water Overflow (CSO) or into streets and gardens if all other routes get blocked. Water companies can spend a large amount time and money unblocking their systems that could otherwise be spent elsewhere. Water quality can also be compromised at beaches leading to pollution incidents.

Cotton buds sticks are often small enough to pass through screens at sewage treatment works and is now a common item littering our near shore waters and beaches. Because they are made of plastic they can remain in the marine environment almost indefinitely. During MCS Beachwatch 2007 over 16,000 cotton bud sticks were found on 354 beaches; that's 97 for every km of beach surveyed!

Andy Cummins, SAS Campaign Officer said: "For too long this campaign has fallen on deaf ears in the high streets. Now with clearer labelling and additional moves by some retailers to ensure the cotton bud stick stems themselves are no longer plastic we are a hopeful of a significant fall in the amount of cotton bud stick litter found - BUT this will only happen if the consumer acts on the information!"

Sue Kinsey MCS Adopt-a-Beach Officer said: "This form of pollution is so easy to stop - it's fantastic news that these major retailers have agreed to display the proper disposal message. I am sure that people will stop using the toilet as a wet bin once they realize the problems this can cause"

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