Group lauds consensus to ban plastic microbeads

In last week’s hearing of the Committee on Ecology of the House of Representatives, government, industry, and civil society representatives voiced their support for House Bill 8120, particularly with respect to banning plastic microbeads, a known ocean pollutant, in rinse-off personal care products such as facial cleansers, body washes, toothpastes, and others.
“The broad support for the proposal to ban plastic microbeads in rinse-off personal care products will facilitate the bill’s expedited approval by lawmakers,” said Thony Dizon, EcoWaste Coalition’s chemical safety campaigner.

“The passage of the bill as amended will help in addressing the escalating threat of microplastic pollution to the health of the oceans and aquatic life,” said Dizon.

He added, “We hope that a parallel bill will be introduced soon at the Senate to speed up the ban on plastic microbeads.”
The extremely tiny plastic microbeads in personal care products go down the drain and into waterways, polluting the oceans with microplastics that can attract and absorb hazardous chemicals, including persistent organic pollutants, which are consumed by fish and other marine organisms that mistake them for food, Dizon explained.

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