Starting July 1, 2017, manufacturers will no longer be allowed to include plastic microbeads in personal care and cosmetic products. The House and Senate passed legislation establishing the ban earlier this month, and President Barack Obama signed the final bill yesterday. Previously, several states banned microbeads and major retail chains such as Wegmans announced plans […]
Microbeads
Posted inNews & Opinion
County Republicans punt on microbead ban
A Democratic proposal to ban the sale of personal care products containing plastic microbeads may not doomed after all. Republicans on the Monroe County Legislature’s Agenda/Charter committee last night referred the measure to the county administration for further study. Members of the GOP caucus have said that the issue should be handled at the federal […]
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Who’s worrying about the water?
Much of California is coping with a severe, multi-year drought. The state’s water supplies and reservoirs are depleted, urban residents are now required to limit their water use, and many farms in the state are losing their crops. By comparison, the Rochester region is hydrologically gifted. Lake Ontario provides people, farms, and businesses with massive […]
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Report: microbeads passing through waste water plants
Plastic microbeads are passing through Monroe County’s two major waste water treatment plants — the Van Lare and Northwest Quadrant facilities — and into Lake Ontario, according to a new report from the State Attorney General’s Office. The county participated in the study. Monroe County’s facilities aren’t the only ones with this problem. The AG’s […]
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AG wants to ban the beads
Attorney General Eric Schneiderman is once again pushing for legislation that would ban the use of tiny plastic particles in cosmetics, facial scrubs, and other personal care items. Schneiderman announced this morning that he’s resubmitted the Microbead-Free Waters Act to state Assembly and Senate leadership. He first proposed legislation last year, and the Assembly passed […]
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Legislation tackles microbeads
New legislation headed for the state Assembly could ban personal care and hygiene products that contain tiny plastic beads, commonly known as microbeads. Attorney General Eric Schneiderman’s office announced the legislation in a press release today, though Assembly member Robert Sweeney is introducing and sponsoring it. Sweeney is chair of the Assembly’s Environmental Conservation Committee. […]
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Paper details plastics pollution in several Great Lakes
Researchers have released a new paper on microplastics in the Great Lakes and in it they say that the concentration of plastic fragments in many cases exceeds that of the world’s oceans. The paper was written by researchers from the 5 Gyres Institute and SUNY Fredonia and covers samples from Lakes Superior, Huron, and Erie. […]
