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<div style="direction: ltr;font-family: Tahoma;color: #000000;font-size: 10pt;">In signing the ban on plastic microbeads in personal care products (PCP), Governor Walker showed his support of the plastics and cosmetics industries and his lack of concern for
the environment and human health.<br>
<br>
The movement to ban microbeads in PCP is primarily driven by their ability to collect and concentrate pharmaceuticals and other pollutants which then enter the food chain when the beads are eaten by aquatic organisms. In response to the ban the bead movement,
the plastics industry has been successfully pushing state legislatures to adopt bans using wording that they wrote rather than wording promoted by environmental groups. The industry version has two provisions that make it very objectionable to anyone wanting
an effective ban. It is the plastics industry version that Governor Walker just signed into law.<br>
<br>
The law [http://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2015/related/acts/43] only applies to, "non-biodegradable, solid plastic" [<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">299.50 Sec 1(e)]</span>. With "non-biodegradable"
left undefined, it can, and will, be argued that the plastics used (or the bio-polymers they could switch to) are biodegradable. But, under what conditions do they biodegrade?
<br>
<br>
It has been reported that the biodegradable plastics now available require composting at high temperatures to break down. They do not biodegrade in the natural environment. California is now considering a ban on biodegradable microbeads in PCP! For a detailed
explanation of this point, read these recent stories: <br>
<blockquote>http://www.thenewstribune.com/2015/01/28/3612216/environmentalists-pan-microbeads.html<br>
<br>
http://www.theguardian.com/vital-signs/2015/jun/08/california-microbead-ban-bioplastic-story-of-stuff-water
<br>
</blockquote>
The Wisconsin law also includes an industry written ban on local communities enacting legislation [Sec 4]. "A political subdivision may not enact an ordinance or adopt a resolution concerning the manufacture, sale, or distribution of products containing synthetic
plastic microbeads."<br>
<br>
<div>This law is a total win for the manufactures and polluters, allowing them to continue their activities while locking out effective local legislation.<br>
<br>
When your state legislators consider a ban on plastic microbeads in PCP, please be sure to lobby for a bill that does not include the non-biodegradable loop-hole or a ban on local action. Thanks!<br>
<br>
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<div style="font-family:Tahoma; font-size:13px"><font><span style="font-size:" lang="en-US">
<div>Ed Gottlieb<br>
Chair, Coalition for Safe Medication Disposal<br>
</div>
<div>Industrial Pretreatment Coordinator</div>
<div>Ithaca Area Wastewater Treatment Facility<br>
525 3<font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><sup>rd</sup></font> Street</div>
<div>Ithaca, NY 14850</div>
<div>(607) 273-8381</div>
<div>fax: (607) 273-8433</div>
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<div style="direction: ltr;" id="divRpF316874"><font color="#000000" face="Tahoma" size="2"><b>From:</b> pharmwaste-bounces@lists.dep.state.fl.us [pharmwaste-bounces@lists.dep.state.fl.us] on behalf of Bickford, Barbara J - DNR (Barb) [Barbara.Bickford@wisconsin.gov]<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Thursday, July 02, 2015 6:31 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> pharmwaste@lists.dep.state.fl.us<br>
<b>Subject:</b> [Pharmwaste] Wisconsin adopts ban on microbeads<br>
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<p class="MsoPlainText"><b>Wisconsin adopts ban on microbeads</b></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><b> </b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Wisconsin is </span>
<span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">the seventh state to ban</span><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> microbeads in personal care products. On Wednesday, Governor Walker signed bipartisan legislation that bans the
manufacturing of microbead products at the beginning of 2018 and their sale one year later. <br>
<a href="http://news.yahoo.com/wisconsin-governor-walker-signs-bill-banning-microbeads-002857108--sector.html" target="_blank">http://news.yahoo.com/wisconsin-governor-walker-signs-bill-banning-microbeads-002857108--sector.html</a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; color:#984806">Barb Bickford</span><span style="font-size:8.0pt; color:navy"><br>
</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt; color:black">Medical Waste Coordinator and Hydrogeologist</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; color:black">Waste and Materials Mgt/AWaRe Division<br>
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources<br>
101 S. Webster St., PO Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707-7921<br>
Phone: 608-267-3548<br>
Fax: 608-267-2768<br>
barbara.bickford@wisconsin.gov<br>
<br>
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