Gov. Hickenlooper Signs Microbead Ban Into Law
DENVER (AP) - Gov. John Hickenlooper has made Colorado the third state to ban on tiny plastic particles from soaps and cosmetic products.
The bill signed into law Thursday bans microbeads by 2020.
The microbeads turn up in face scrubs, acne treatments and toothpaste. The particles are too fine to be caught in wastewater treatment plants, and the plastic bits can pollute lakes and rivers.
The microbeads are about the size of fish eggs and can be swallowed by aquatic life.
The ban has the backing of large personal-care product manufacturers including Johnson & Johnson.
Illinois and New York have already enacted bans, and other states are considering bans.
LINK: House Bill 1144
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