Is NJ About To Ban Microbeads?

The New Jersey State Senate today voted 38-0 to adopt legislation sponsored by State Senator Christopher “Kip” Bateman prohibiting personal care products that contain tiny particles known as microbeads from being sold or produced in New Jersey.

Microbeads are small plastic particles that are added to products like face washes and cosmetic products as an exfoliate.

“Microbeads pose a significant environmental concern as they can’t be trapped by most water filtration systems and as a result end up in rivers and lakes,” said Bateman (R-Somerset, Hunterdon, Middlesex, Mercer. “The best way to keep these synthetic pieces of plastic from ending up in the drinking supplies that millions of New Jerseyans depend on is to keep the products they are used in off the shelves. This legislation puts New Jersey at the forefront of a national effort to address this important problem.”

Under Senator Bateman’s legislation, S2178, the prohibition against the production of microbeads in New Jersey and the sale of items containing microbeads would be phased in over a period of years:

• By January 1, 2018 no person could produce or manufacture a personal care product containing synthetic plastic microbeads.

• By January 1, 2019 no person could sell or offer for sale or promotion a personal care product containing synthetic plastic microbeads.

• By January 1, 2019 no person could produce or manufacture an over the counter drug that contains synthetic plastic microbeads.

• January 1, 2020 no person could sell or offer for sale or promotion an over the counter drug containing synthetic plastic microbeads.

S2178 passed the Assembly unanimously on Sept. 29, 2014 and will now go to the governor for approval.