Wet wipes, which have become essentials in homes and restaurants, are said to be in a management blind spot, making it impossible to properly impose disposal costs. It is estimated that more than 100 billion won in taxes are spent annually just to maintain sewer pipelines clogged by wet wipes dumped into them.

According to the report released on the 12th by the National Assembly Research Service, titled ‘Legislative Review to Resolve Wet Wipe Environmental Issues’, wet wipes in Korea are classified under the Cosmetics Act as ‘cosmetics for body cleansing’ and are therefore excluded from single-use product management. Wet wipes that do not dissolve in water are plastic-based synthetic fibers and are cited as a major cause of microplastics and sewer blockages. In terms of environmental harm, they are on par with single-use plastic cups and plastic bags, but due to their legal classification they are not subject to single-use product regulations.

Wet wipes are also in a regulatory blind spot for labeling·advertising. Because they are legally considered cosmetics, even if manufacturers promote an eco-friendly image with phrases such as ‘natural pulp’ and ‘cotton-like feel’, there is no way to sanction them. This is because there are no test standards, criteria, or certification systems to objectively evaluate the eco-friendliness of wet wipes. Some manufacturers advertise that wet wipes which do not break down in sewer systems can be ‘flushed down the toilet’.

The ‘polluter pays principle’, which imposes environmental responsibility on producers, likewise cannot be applied. According to sewer statistics from the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment and analyses by major local governments, nationwide sewer pipeline maintenance costs exceed 250 billion won per year. Of that, more than 100 billion won is estimated to be spent annually on emergency dredging and pump repairs caused by dumping wet wipes. In fact, about 80~90% of debris generated in the screening process at wastewater treatment plants has been identified as wet wipes.

All restoration costs arising from the dumping of wet wipes fall on local governments. Those that cannot bear the fiscal burden ultimately raise sewer fees to make up the shortfall. In effect, consumers shoulder the costs of the environmental damage caused by wet wipes.

Used wet wipes are non-recyclable waste, but they are not subject to the ‘waste charge’ under current law, so manufacturers pay no separate levy. The waste-charge system requires producers of products that contain hazardous substances or are difficult to recycle to pay an amount corresponding to waste disposal costs in order to reduce environmental pollution. Plastic products, high synthetic-resin ice packs, and disposable diapers are subject to the waste charge.

In contrast, major countries abroad clearly regard wet wipes as ‘subjects of environmental regulation’ and are moving to manage them from the production stage. The UK government announced a bill in November last year to ‘ban the sale of single-use wet wipes containing plastic’. Starting in December this year with Wales, the ban on wet wipe sales will be expanded to Scotland, England, and Northern Ireland. In addition, all wet wipes that generate microplastics will be brought within the scope of regulation. The aim is to prevent environmental damage through proactive regulations that block plastic use at the production·distribution stages.

Germany, through its Single-Use Plastics Fund Act, has since 2023 been collecting a wet wipe levy of 0.061 euros per kg from certain plastic manufacturers. The levies collected from manufacturers are used to cover municipal public cleaning and sewer management costs. In addition, the European Union (EU) plans to require manufacturers to provide information regarding wet wipes.

The research service said, “We need to clearly establish the legal status of wet wipes, which are treated ambiguously under the current legal system, and fully bring them within the framework of plastic waste management,” and added, “There is a need to sequentially consider improving labeling·advertising, introducing producer responsibility, regulating plastic content and restricting use, and even imposing a comprehensive restriction on the sale of plastic wet wipes.”