ERIE COUNTY, N.Y. -- Erie County executive signed a law prohibiting the sale of microbead products in Erie County on Wednesday.
County Executive, Mark C. Poloncarz, was joined by Erie County Legislator Patrick Burke, elected officials, representatives of the NYS Attorney General's office and environmental advocates to sign into law Local Law 8-2. This law will prohibit the sale of personal cosmetic products containing microbeads in Erie County.
Microbeads are a synthetic alternative ingredient to natural materials like ground almonds, oatmeal and pumice. They are added to over 100 personal cosmetic products like shampoos, toothpastes and body and facial cleansers. When microbeads are rinsed down drains and pass through water treatment plants they can enter local waterways and collect and spread pollutants. This can har fish and other aquatic life.
Local Law 8-2 is the first local law in New York State to address the issue.
The new law will go into effect 180 days after it is filed with the New York Secretary of State's office.
