Full Text of HB1284 103rd General Assembly
HB1284 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY |
| | 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024 HB1284 Introduced 1/31/2023, by Rep. Daniel Didech SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: |
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Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Provides that on and after: (1) December 31, 2024, all State-owned washing machines must contain a microfiber filtration system; (2) December 31, 2028, no person shall manufacture for sale in this State a washing machine that does not contain a microfiber filtration system; and (3) December 31, 2030, no person shall accept for sale in this State a washing machine that does not contain a microfiber filtration system. Defines terms.
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| | A BILL FOR |
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| 1 | | AN ACT concerning safety.
| 2 | | Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
| 3 | | represented in the General Assembly:
| 4 | | Section 1. Findings. The General Assembly finds that: | 5 | | (1) Microfibers are the most prevalent microplastics | 6 | | found in the environment, are used as a synthetic | 7 | | alternative to natural fibers by the textile industry, are | 8 | | contained in the majority of clothing worldwide, and pose | 9 | | a serious threat to the State's environment. | 10 | | (2) When synthetic clothing and other textiles | 11 | | containing microfibers are washed, they shed these tiny | 12 | | plastic fragments that are difficult to remediate once | 13 | | released. For example, studies suggest that, during a | 14 | | single wash, a fleece jacket can release up to one million | 15 | | microfibers, which explains why microfibers have been | 16 | | found in a range of land and aquatic ecosystems and why it | 17 | | is important to prevent their release. | 18 | | (3) Once released into the water supply, microfibers | 19 | | can harm the small aquatic organisms that ingest them at | 20 | | the base of the marine food chain, and they are eventually | 21 | | bioaccumulated in other marine creatures and the human | 22 | | food web. While we know humans ingest microplastics | 23 | | through the air we breathe, water we drink, and food we | 24 | | eat, the health effects of ingesting microplastics are |
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| 1 | | still unclear. | 2 | | (4) Microfibers have been found in Illinois waters, | 3 | | including Lake Michigan and its tributaries, contain toxic | 4 | | chemicals intentionally added to textiles during | 5 | | manufacturing, and have been documented to collect harmful | 6 | | pollutants already present in the environment. | 7 | | (5) Although synthetic fabrics have characteristics | 8 | | that are desirable for the textile industry and consumers, | 9 | | such as being affordable, moisture wicking, and | 10 | | lightweight, there are significant concerns about the | 11 | | environmental impact of these materials and the uncertain | 12 | | impact they have on human health. While research is needed | 13 | | on adverse consequences to the environment and human | 14 | | health of microplastics, some stopgap measures have been | 15 | | introduced, such as recommendations for new laundry | 16 | | detergent formulas to minimize microplastic shedding and | 17 | | recommendations for the use of fiber-catching mesh bags. | 18 | | Meanwhile, the use of microfibers in textiles is projected | 19 | | to grow. | 20 | | (6) Without intervention and significant, costly | 21 | | improvements to the State's sewage treatment facilities, | 22 | | microfibers contained in textiles will continue to pollute | 23 | | Illinois' waters and hinder not only the recent, | 24 | | substantial economic investments that have been made in | 25 | | redeveloping Illinois waterfronts but also the ongoing | 26 | | efforts to restore the State's lakes, rivers, and |
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| 1 | | recreational and commercial fisheries.
| 2 | | Section 5. The Environmental Protection Act is amended by | 3 | | adding Section 52.6 as follows: | 4 | | (415 ILCS 5/52.6 new) | 5 | | Sec. 52.6. Microfiber filtration. | 6 | | (a) In this Section: | 7 | | "Microfiber" means a synthetic fiber that is composed of | 8 | | microplastic, intentionally embedded into a textile, and shed | 9 | | from the textile when washed. | 10 | | "Microfiber filtration system" means a washing machine | 11 | | filter that (i) is capable of reducing by 90% the mass of | 12 | | microfibers that would otherwise be emitted by the washing | 13 | | machine as a result of its operation and (ii) has a mesh size | 14 | | of 100 microns or less. | 15 | | "Microplastic" means a plastic piece less than 5 | 16 | | millimeters in diameter. | 17 | | "Plastic" has the meaning ascribed in subsection (a) of | 18 | | Section 52.5. | 19 | | (b) On and after December 31, 2024, all State-owned | 20 | | washing machines must contain a microfiber filtration system. | 21 | | (c) On and after December 31, 2028, no person shall | 22 | | manufacture for sale in this State a washing machine that does | 23 | | not contain a microfiber filtration system. | 24 | | (d) On and after December 31, 2030, no person shall accept |
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| 1 | | for sale in this State a washing machine that does not contain | 2 | | a microfiber filtration system.
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