The State We’re In: Taking ‘plastic soup’ off the menu – USA

Posted on April 7, 2015 by DrRossH in Plastic Limiting Regulations

The State We’re In: Taking ‘plastic soup’ off the menu | NJ.com.

Microbeads are made of polyethylene or polypropylene, the same plastics used to manufacture garbage containers, grocery bags and much more. They’ve replaced natural abrasives such as pumice and crushed almonds. A single tube of a personal care product can contain over 300,000 microbeads.

Most wastewater treatment plants can’t filter out or break down these tiny plastic particles, so they end up in rivers and streams and oceans. Once in the water, they absorb toxins from other pollutants. They’re then ingested by aquatic life and passed into the food chain. They can also get into drinking water supplies.

Fortunately, the New Jersey Legislature is taking plastic soup off the menu.

Good move for New Jersey.  Let us hope other states follow suit soon.