In 2019, Washington State passed precedent-setting legislation protecting people and the environment from toxic pollution. The Safer Products for Washington Act is now the nation’s strongest law regulating toxic chemicals in products, which are a major source of contamination in our homes, food, waterways and bodies. The new law will help:
- Stop the use of thousands of chemicals in millions of products by addressing chemicals as classes.
- Tackle high-priority chemicals first – PFAS, flame retardants, phthalates, alkyphenol ethoxylates, bisphenols and PCBs.
- Drive the demand for sustainable products that don’t pollute.
The law directs our state agencies to identify the products that are the biggest sources of exposure to high-priority chemicals, and provides authority to take action to reduce exposure. Agencies can ban or require disclosure of harmful chemicals in a wide range of products, from plastics and personal care products to electronics and building materials.
A growing body of science and Toxic-Free Future’s own research have documented that chemicals escape out of products into dust and air in our homes, travel through wastewater, and pollute homes, waters, the food supply and even us!
Costs of cleanup and health impacts due to these chemicals are significant for governments, taxpayers and businesses. Prioritizing prevention of pollution and disease makes the most sense.
Current Implementation Status:
- Toxic-Free Future submitted comments on January 28, 2022.
- The Department of Ecology submitted a draft report to the state legislature that proposes state-wide chemical restrictions on five classes of chemicals in eleven product categories.
See here for more information on the Department of Ecology’s implementation timeline and process.