The Dutch cabinet wants a European-wide ban on wet wipes which are clogging up  sewage system pumps, causing tens of millions of damage each year.

The wipes, which are often flushed down the toilet, are becoming increasingly popular but contain non-degradable plastics which accumulate and put the sewage pumps out of action.

These then have to be repaired at an annual cost of €22 million to €55 million, junior environment minister Chris Jansen (PVV) said in a briefing to MPs.

Wet wipes are also discarded into the environment where they release damaging microplastics as well, he said.

Jansen did not specify a timeline for the ban. A Europe-wide ban would need a change in the European Single-use Plastic (SUP) guideline.