Portman’s bill to reduce microbeads in water bodies advances

U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) recently announced the advancement of a bill that he authored that would help companies throughout the country phase out the use of microbeads, which is now waiting on presidential approval to become a law.

The bill, the Microbeads Free Waters Act of 2015, would provide a commonsense solution and timeline for the removal of microbeads from manufacturing in a way that creates a level playing field for companies. The bill was co-authored with U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), while the house version of the bill was authored by U.S. Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI) and U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ).

“Plastic microbeads are devastating to wildlife and human health, and I’m pleased our bill will now be law so we can phase them out in a way that’s fair to Ohio companies and keeps them on a level playing field with their competitors,” Portman said. “Lake Erie is not only a precious natural resource, but also essential for Ohio jobs and tourism and our bill takes appropriate steps to protect this important asset for Ohio.”

Microbeads are small plastic particles that are used as abrasives in products including facial scrubs, soaps and toothpastes. Unfortunately, the beads do not dissolve and, due to their buoyancy, move beyond sewage treatment plants and into water bodies such as lakes and streams.