AB 129: Microfiber pollution.
- Session Year: 2019-2020
- House: Assembly
- Latest Version Date: 2019-03-25
The Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986 (Proposition 65) prohibits any person, in the course of doing business, from knowingly and intentionally exposing any individual to a chemical known to the state to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity without giving a specified warning, or from discharging or releasing such a chemical into any source of drinking water, except as specified. Existing law prohibits the sale of expanded polystyrene packaging material by a wholesaler or manufacturer unless that material is composed of 100% recycled material. Existing law prohibits a person from selling a plastic product in this state that is labeled with the term compostable, home compostable, or marine degradable unless, at the time of sale, the plastic product meets the applicable ASTM International standard specification. Existing law prohibits, on and after January 1, 2020, a person, business, or other entity from selling or offering for promotional purposes in this state a personal care product containing plastic microbeads, as specified.
This bill would declare the intent of the Legislature to, among other things, enact legislation to recognize the emerging threat that microfibers pose to the environment and water quality and would make related findings and declarations.
(a)The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(1)Microfiber is a subcategory of microplastic that is shed from synthetic fabric when that fabric is washed.
(2)These small, nondegradable fibers that are less than 5 millimeters in length are a major category of plastic pollution in water, pose a serious threat to the environment, and have been found within fish and shellfish that are consumed by humans.
(3)Garments made from synthetic fabrics, such as polyester, can shed up to 1,900 microfibers per wash.
(4)Polyester is the most widely used fiber in the textiles industry and accounts for about 50 percent of the total fiber market.
(5)Effluent from washing machines and wastewater treatment plants is a significant source of microfiber pollution that enters waterways and the ocean.
(b)It is therefore the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to do all of the following:
(1)Recognize the emerging threat that microfibers pose to the environment and water quality.
(2)Provide information to the general public about the sources of microfiber pollution.
(3)Reduce the amount of microfiber that enters the environment and is subsequently consumed by wildlife.
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Date
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Status
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|---|---|
| Feb 3, 2020 | From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56. |
| Jan 31, 2020 | Died pursuant to Art. IV, Sec. 10(c) of the Constitution. |
| Apr 9, 2019 | In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author. |
| Mar 26, 2019 | Re-referred to Com. on E.S. & T.M. |
| Mar 25, 2019 | Referred to Com. on E.S. & T.M. |
| Jan 7, 2019 | Read first time. |
| Dec 5, 2018 | From printer. May be heard in committee January 4. |
| Dec 4, 2018 | Introduced. To print. |
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Bill Author
Bill Co-Author(s):