John F Hunt Regeneration, along with the Port of London Authority, Thames Water and Thames21 have removed close to 5 million wet wipes, which had accumulated within a 250-metre stretch on the foreshore of the River Thames near Hammersmith Bridge, known as ‘Wet Wipe Island’.
Spanning across three weeks and being the country’s first mass wet wipe removal operation, engineers extracted the waste, which had formed a thick layer of consolidated sludge that was extremely harmful to the river’s ecology.
The project’s completion had a positive environmental impact, as it restored the river’s natural flow and safeguarded the surrounding habitat.
But how did it all get there?
The wipes enter the river system when they are flushed down the toilet, despite ‘do not flush’ warnings, and are transported through combined sewer overflows. Eventually, they gather at the slow-flowing bend of the River Thames near Hammersmith and, over time, degrade and release microplastics into the water.
Overall, it harms the aquatic life and pollutes the broader ecosystem. This is a clear reminder to throw wet wipes in the bin and not to flush them down the toilet.
During the clearance process, engineers identified that wet wipes were not the only waste materials that needed clearing; other waste materials included towels, scarves, trousers, and even a car engine component.
A Joint Effort Clean Up
The Wet Wipe Island project illustrated that even smaller-scale operations can present complex logistical and environmental challenges requiring meticulous planning and innovative execution. That’s precisely what we delivered.
With limited tidal working windows, the operation demanded exceptional coordination, technical expertise, and effective time management to ensure completion within the challenging site conditions.
Using a low-ground-pressure 8-tonne excavator, our team developed and delivered the ‘rake and shake’ technique to safely separate wet wipes and other debris, minimising environmental disturbance and ensuring the waste was responsibly managed and disposed of.
John F Hunt Regeneration is proud to have contributed to reshaping this section of the river, where years of wet wipe accumulation had disrupted the natural flow. The project has helped to promote a cleaner, healthier tidal Thames, enhance habitat protection, and support local biodiversity.
