Democratic lawmakers in New York City are considering banning detergent pods to reduce microplastics entering the city’s waterways. new york post It was reported on Monday.
Last week, City Councilman James Gennaro (D) said,The pod is a plastic buildingIf passed, the measure would go into effect in 2026, banning the “sale of washing machine and dishwasher pods and sheets containing polyvinyl alcohol.”
Polyvinyl alcohol, also known as PVA, is a water-soluble, biodegradable synthetic resin. science direct. PVA is used as a film to create detergent pods that dissolve during the wash cycle.
blue landCompanies that make “eco-friendly” detergents claim that the plastic polymers used to make detergent pods and wash sheets are “soluble” but “not necessarily biodegradable.” study Published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. The company claims that research shows PVA is biodegradable but requires a “very specific” conditioner. Otherwise, synthetic plastic polymers will dissolve and become microplastics.
“For PVA to fully biodegrade, it requires the presence of very specific microorganisms and enzymes that aid in the decomposition process. In addition to these microorganisms, it also requires a certain amount of time in a wastewater treatment facility,” the company says. says. .
Blueland supports Gennaro’s bill. Sara Paige Yu, co-founder of the company, said: fast company“Companies should not be allowed to put microplastics into products designed to go down the drain and into the water.”
Yu pointed out that most consumers are not aware that dissolvable laundry pods are made of plastic.
“We were troubled by the fact that this entire industry is built on consumers not realizing that this material is plastic,” Yu told the news outlet.
If passed, the bill would impose a $400 fine for selling pods, $800 for a second offense, and up to $1,200 for additional violations. The bill would also “require retail and wholesale trade education and outreach efforts to comply with the requirements of this act.”
Gennaro told the Post that PVA is “the most concerning of the emerging contaminants.”
“It’s important for people to know that I’m very cautious and I’m taking a science-based approach,” Gennaro continued. “But I think ultimately the science will prove that this is something Congress should act on.”
“I need a little more [information]But I introduced this bill to get everyone’s attention,” he said.
Blaze News previously reported that “permanent chemicals” found in microplastics are responsible for $250 billion in annual health care costs in the U.S., according to a recent study conducted by researchers at New York University.
These chemicals, also known as PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), are found in many everyday products, including nonstick cookware, cleaning products, and cosmetics. PFAS are linked to many health problems, including liver disease, kidney disease, cancer, and reduced fertility.
of American Cleaning AssociationIndustry groups representing P&G, Clorox, Unilever, and Church & Dwight said the bill was “unnecessary” and said the bill was “unnecessary” and said the bill was “unnecessary. “It limits our ability to create possible solutions.” ”
The group also accused Blueland of trying to discredit the use of polyvinyl alcohol “despite decades of evidence regarding its safe use.”
“Once again, we are seeing an unfortunate and disingenuous misinformation campaign being launched against the use of polyvinyl alcohol in products such as laundry packets and dishwasher tubs,” ACI said. Ta. “And as always, Bluelands-centered campaigners are relying on shoddy science and deliberate distortions on this matter.”
ACI called the water-soluble pods a “sustainability success story.”
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