South Leicestershire MP, Alberto Costa, is introducing a Bill which aims to stem the tide of microplastic pollution. Alberto is introducing the Microplastic Filters (Washing Machines) Bill on Wednesday in the House of Commons. The Bill would require washing machine manufacturers to fit microplastic-catching filters in all new domestic and commercial washing machines. The Bill also aims to raise awareness of the polluting effects of microplastics on our rivers and seas.
All clothes and garments shed what are known as microfibre plastics. Microfibre plastics are tiny fibres which shed from our clothes during the wash cycle. Microfibre plastic pollution is one of the most pervasive and preventable forms of microplastic pollution with 35% of total microplastics released into the environment being shed from clothing.
Research led by the University of Plymouth has found that one 6kg wash can release up to 700,00 microfibres. Across the UK, this means 10 trillion microfibres are released every week. Due to their size, they are too small to be caught by standard washing machines and can end up in the wastewater system where they are either caught, remain in sewage sludge which can be spread onto growing crops, or released from the wastewater into river and marine environments.
The microplastics, which can contain chemicals, can be ingested by fish and other small aquatic creatures and travel up the food chain to humans. Recent research has also shown that microplastics are in our lungs and in our blood. We now know that plastic is in our bodies, it is suspected it may have an effect on human health as plastics are made from a combination of chemicals which can be toxic.
Microplastic fibres from clothing are contaminating otherwise pristine natural environments, including in snow close to the peak of Mount Everest and they have even been found in the depths of the Mariana Trench in the Western Pacific Ocean. Many urban and semi-urban river beds in the UK are also contaminated with microplastics.
Alberto who is Chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Microplastics, is introducing the Ten-Minute Rule Bill to encourage the Government to work with washing machine manufacturers to fit filters in all new domestic and commercial machines. The technology for this solution is already available and there are British companies who are producing microfibre catching filters with a high capture rate.
Alberto has been working with the National Federation of Women’s Institutes who are the APPG on Microplastics Secretariat. The WI have been working on the campaign ‘End Plastic Soup’ which aims to raise awareness of the effects of the release of microfibres from laundry since 2017.
Alberto said: “I am delighted to be bringing in this Bill which aims to raise awareness of the damaging effects microplastics have on our environment. I am very grateful for all the support I have received for the Bill from colleagues from across the House of Commons. Microfibres are a huge problem that the Government need to tackle. With the technology already available for this solution, I am urging the Government to implement this change quickly.”
Ann Jones, Chair of the National Federation of Women’s Institutes said: “The WI has been campaigning against ocean pollution since 1927 and most recently through our End Plastic Soup campaign in 2017. As the Secretariat to the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Microplastics, we are proud to support Alberto Costa MP’s Ten-Minute Rule Bill.
The Bill would deliver the six holistic recommendations to clean up microplastic fibre pollution as proposed in the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Microplastics first report. WI members across England, Wales and the Islands have organised plenty of community events to raise awareness of microplastic fibre pollution on the environment and so we are also pleased to see this contained in Alberto’s Bill.”
Alberto added: “This is an opportunity for the UK to become world leading in tackling the effects of microplastics. Businesses and consumers also have a responsibility and more awareness needs to be raised in this area, so I do look forward to continuing to raise this matter in Parliament in the hope that real change can be achieved soon.”
