Albany (NY) – Microbeads – the
tiny plastic pellets that come by the tens of thousands in bottles of face
wash, toothpaste, and more – are on their way to being banned in Albany County.
Legislation sponsored by County Legislator Bryan Clenahan (D-Guilderland),
County Legislator Chris Higgins (D-Albany), and others is set to be introduced
to the committee agenda at tonight’s meeting of the Legislature.
A similar ban was just signed
into law in Erie
County, while other municipalities like the Town
of Wilson, Cattaraugus
County, and Chautauqua
County are moving such measures forward. The ban will take effect
six months after being signed into law.
A microbead ban is
particularly important to the Capital Region, as this needless waste is designed
to wash down the drain, where it accumulates and wreaks havoc on the local
wastewater infrastructure, passes through wastewater treatment plants, and
makes its way into local waterbodies such as the Hudson River. Wildlife mistake
microbeads for food, thus entering them into the food chain. Along this
process, microbeads attract and absorb persistent organic pollutants such as
PCBs, which are a public health threat and rampant in the Hudson River.
According to
a report from the Office of Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, 19
tons of microbeads may be washing into New York’s wastewater annually.
County Legislator Clenahan said,
“Microbeads don’t biodegrade, so the problem accumulates and if we don’t ban
them now, this will become very costly for taxpayers down the road. That’s
unacceptable. Microbeads are unnecessary waste, and I am proud to partner with
my colleagues to advance this legislation and continue Albany County’s leadership
on environmental and public health issues.”
County Legislator Chris
Higgins said, “I am excited to co-sponsor this local law which when enacted
will play a critical role in protecting our environment and in particular, our
water supply from these unnecessary microbeads.”
Attorney General Eric
Schneiderman, who introduced the Microbead-Free Waters Act on the state level
said, “I applaud the members of the Albany County Legislature seeking to ban
the use of microbeads in personal care products sold in the county. As my
office and our broad coalition of legislators, advocates, and citizens continue
to fight for a statewide ban on microbeads, it is important that local leaders
take up this cause to protect our waters and our wildlife. A recent study by my
office found that these tiny, plastic beads are passing through wastewater
treatment plants and contaminating waters across the state.”
Saima Anjam, environmental
health director at Environmental
Advocates of New York said, “Microbeads are a pointless
plastic waste that compromise our wastewater system, pollute our waterways,
harm wildlife, and ultimately become a public health concern. New York needs a
statewide ban, but since state Senate leadership failed to allow a bill to the
floor for a vote it is critical local leaders do what’s necessary. We applaud
Legislators Clenahan, Higgins, and others who have taken the lead on an issue
with enormous consequences for the Capital Region and beyond.”
Brian Smith, associate executive
director for Citizens
Campaign for the Environment said, “Tiny plastic microbeads are
adding up to a huge problem for the Hudson River and other waters throughout
the state. Absent action by the state legislature, counties across the state
are now stepping up to protect our waters from plastic pollution. CCE commends
Legislator Clenahan for his leadership to not only protect our local waters,
but also to drive the state to protect all our waters.”
Caitlin Pixley, conservation
associate with the Sierra
Club Atlantic Chapter said, “The impact that plastic microbeads are
having upon our environment is significant and concerning. Microbeads are
washed down drains after use and end up in water treatment facilities that
cannot filter them out. These plastic particles are then released into our
waterways. The Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter applauds County Legislators
Clenahan and Chris Higgins for taking action on this issue and we look forward
to working with them to make this bill law."
Jill Jedlicka, executive
director of Buffalo
Niagara Riverkeeper said, “The threat of microbeads in New York
State's fresh water resources must be taken seriously, whether it is the Great
Lakes or inland waterways. The efforts to ban microbeads in Erie County and now
Albany County demonstrate the sentiment of state residents who support the
elimination of harmful and unnecessary plastic pollution from our drinking
water supply and recreational waterways. Thank you to the leaders in Albany
County, led by Legislator Bryan Clenahan, for recognizing this threat and for
taking meaningful action.”
Earlier this year, the state
Legislature was expected to pass the Microbead-Free
Waters Act, program legislation first introduced by Attorney General
Schneiderman in 2014. The Assembly passed the measure with overwhelming
bipartisan support, 139-1. Passage also seemed assured in the Senate where 59
percent of all members cosponsored the bill. However, it died in the
Environmental Conservation Committee, which has led local governments statewide
to step up and take action.
These local actions have
encouraged statewide retailers like Wegmans and Tops to announce plans to stop
selling products with microbeads at all of their locations.
Source: Environmental
Advocates of New York
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