Indian Time - A Voice from the Eastern Door

Albany – Recently, the Albany County Legislature became the fifth statewide to pass a ban on microbeads, the tiny plastic pellets found in personal hygiene products like face wash and toothpaste; the legislation awaits the signature of County Executive Dan McCoy.

Since summer, a total of 11 municipalities has introduced or passed legislation following the state Senate’s failure to vote on the Microbead-Free Waters Act; that legislation, which was sponsored by nearly 60 percent of all senators, passed with a vote of 139-1 in the Assembly.

The following statement is attributable to Saima Anjam, environmental health director at Environmental Advocates of New York:

“Microbeads are a needless waste that wreak havoc on our wastewater infrastructure, and hurt our waterways and wildlife. Republican and Democratic officials from urban, rural and suburban areas alike recognize the need to act because failing to do so will turn these tiny beads into major headaches down the road. The state Senate failed to do its job this year and local leaders are stepping up to the fill the leadership void. We applaud officials from Albany County, in particular Legislator Bryan Clenahan, as well as Erie, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, and Suffolk counties who have banned the bead. Because of their efforts the momentum will continue to grow. The New York State Senate simply cannot leave Albany in 2016 without doing their job and voting on the Microbead-Free Waters Act.”