[Pharmwaste] Microbead ban passes N.J. Assembly, awaits Senate action

[DeBiasi, Deborah (DEQ)]

http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/10/nj_assembly_unanimously_approves_bill_banning_microbeads_-_plastic_particles_in_cosmetics.html

Microbead ban passes N.J. Assembly, awaits Senate action
A bill banning the use of microbeads, tiny plastic particles, in toothpaste and cosmetic products was unanimously approved by the New Assembly on Monday. (File photo)
By Seth Augenstein | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com<http://connect.nj.com/user/saugenstein/posts.html>The Star-Ledger
Email the author | Follow on Twitter<https://twitter.com/SethAugenstein>
on October 01, 2014 at 1:03 PM, updated October 01, 2014 at 4:12 PM
TRENTON<http://www.nj.com/trenton> - A bill that would ban tiny plastic particles known as microbeads in all New Jersey toothpastes, faces washes and cosmetic products was unanimously passed by the state Assembly.
The bill was approved 72-0 on Monday. A companion bill was introduced in the state Senate in June, and is expected to be on a subcommittee agenda next week.
The bill would prohibit making, selling or promoting any of the cosmetics products, such as soap, face wash and toothpaste, with microbeads.
The concerns have chiefly centered around environmental impacts. Research has indicated that the tiny particles are not filtered out of wastewater - and the synthetic pieces of plastic can make it into open waterways. Procter and Gamble, the makers of Crest toothpaste, have reportedly pledged to discontinue the use of microbeads in the products<https://www.yahoo.com/health/crest-will-eliminate-microbeads-from-its-toothpastes-97817594702.html>.
Assemblyman Patrick Diegnan (D-Middlesex) said the bill had no opposition from lobbyists or other legislators as it came out of committee, two weeks ago<http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/09/nj_pols_propose_banning_plastic_microbeads_in_toothpaste_face_wash_soap.html>.
Ed Waters, the director of government affairs for the industry group Chemistry Council of New Jersey, said today that the group was consulted by the sponsors of the bill - and that amendments were made to give the industry time to "sell through" the products it has already manufactured. Industry groups the Council represents have already begun phasing out use of microbeads, he said.
"The folks we represent are currently in the process of discontinuing the use of microbeads," Waters said.
The Sierra Club in New Jersey said it would continue to support an outright ban of the particles.
"In New Jersey where two thirds of our drinking water come out of rivers and streams microbeads are ending up in our water supply and drinking water. We are concerned it is not just about fish, but also about people."
State Sen. Linda Greenstein (D-Mercer and Middlesex) said the bill is expected to be before the senate's commerce committee next Thursday.
"I think it's a very good piece of legislation - we're at the forefront of this," said Greenstein, adding that a handful of states also were moving toward full bans.
Illinois banned microbeads in June, following a study released last year which found that an average of 43,000 particles per kilometer were counted in the Great Lakes<http://www.marcuseriksen.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Microplastic-pollution-in-the-surface-waters-of-the-Laurentian-Great-Lakes.pdf>.

Deborah L. DeBiasi
Email:   Deborah.DeBiasi at deq.virginia.gov
WEB site address:  www.deq.virginia.gov<http://www.deq.virginia.gov/>
Virginia Department of Environmental Quality
Office of Water Permits
Industrial Pretreatment/Whole Effluent Toxicity (WET) Program
PPCPs, EDCs, and Microconstituents
http://www.deq.virginia.gov/Programs/Water/PermittingCompliance/PollutionDischargeElimination/Microconstituents.aspx
Mail:          P.O. Box 1105, Richmond, VA  23218
Location:  629 E. Main Street, Richmond, VA  23219
PH:         804-698-4028      FAX:      804-698-4032

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