| Date of Action |
Assembly Actions -
Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE |
|---|---|
| Mar 12, 2026 |
print number 5605d |
| Mar 12, 2026 |
amend and recommit to consumer protection |
| Jan 07, 2026 |
referred to consumer protection |
| Jun 09, 2025 |
print number 5605c |
| Jun 09, 2025 |
amend (t) and recommit to consumer protection |
| May 23, 2025 |
print number 5605b |
| May 23, 2025 |
amend and recommit to consumer protection |
| Mar 20, 2025 |
print number 5605a |
| Mar 20, 2025 |
amend (t) and recommit to consumer protection |
| Feb 25, 2025 |
referred to consumer protection |
June 5, 2025
Re: Support for S5605A / A4716A – Microfiber Filtration Requirements for Washing Machines
Chair, Consumer Protection Committee
New York State Senate
Legislative Office Building, Room 804
Albany, NY 12247
Dear Senator May and Members of the Consumer Protection Committee;
On behalf of the 5 Gyres Institute, I write in strong support of S5605A / A4716A, which would require all new residential and commercial washing machines sold in New York to include integrated microfiber filtration systems. As an environmental nonprofit dedicated to advancing science-based solutions to plastic pollution, we view this bill as a critical step in protecting public health, ecosystems, and water quality.
Microfibers are one of the most prevalent and persistent forms of microplastic pollution. These particles shed during washing, drying, and use of synthetic textiles are transported by air and water and have been found in oceans, freshwater, soil, the Arctic, and even Mount Everest¹. They can persist in the environment for decades or longer due to their chemical treatments, coatings, and resistance to degradation².
Since 1950, an estimated 4.8 million metric tons of synthetic microfibers have entered the environment³. Wastewater treatment plants emit between 30,000 and 15 million microfibers per day even after standard filtration³. Biosolids containing trapped microfibers are often applied to farmland, introducing additional pollutants to soils⁴. Microfibers are also transported via air and are the most common microparticles found in human lungs⁵.
Microfibers accumulate in fish, birds, terrestrial animals, and humans, with studies detecting them in trout, salmon, anchovies, white suckers, black rockfish, and various invertebrates⁶⁻⁷. In humans, microfibers have been found in the lungs, placenta, liver, and brain, showing the capacity to translocate across tissues and organs⁸⁻¹⁰. Inhalation in indoor environments, especially poorly ventilated spaces can result in exposure of up to 140 particles per kilogram of body weight per day¹¹.
These fibers can cause gut blockages, gill damage, inflammation, and endocrine disruption, and can act as chemical carriers, absorbing pesticides, PAHs, heavy metals, and additives commonly used in textile production¹²⁻¹⁵. Their irregular shape and diverse chemical makeup complicate toxicological assessments and heighten long-term risks to human and ecosystem health.
Filtration is a proven solution. Washing machine filters can capture up to 90% of shed fibers before they enter wastewater systems¹⁶. Real-world pilots show these technologies are effective in reducing citywide emissions¹⁷. A recent cost analysis commissioned by The Nature Conservancy found that incorporating microfiber filters at the manufacturing stage would increase the price of a new residential machine by only $14–$20, with costs expected to fall as adoption scales.
By requiring integrated filtration on new washing machines, S5605A / A4716A takes a vital upstream approach to preventing microplastic pollution before it begins. New York has the opportunity to lead by example and reduce microfiber emissions at their source—protecting our waterways, wildlife, and communities.
5 Gyres is proud to support this legislation and urges swift passage. Thank you for your leadership in tackling this urgent issue.
Sincerely,
Alison Waliszewski
Director of Regional Policy & Program Development
5 Gyres Institute
References
¹ Stanton et al. Sci Total Environ (2019).
² Lacasse & Baumann. Textile Chemicals (Springer, 2004).
³ Tao et al. Environ Sci Technol Lett (2022).
⁴ Kapp & Miller. PLoS ONE (2020).
⁵ Saini et al. Indoor Air (2017).
⁶ Munno et al. Conserv Biol (2021).
⁷ Lasdin et al. PeerJ (2023).
⁸ Ragusa et al. Environ Int (2021).
⁹ Horvatits et al. eBioMedicine (2022).
¹⁰ Amato-Lourenço et al. JAMA (2024).
¹¹ Saini et al. Indoor Air (2017).
¹² Athey et al. Water (2022).
¹³ Schellenberger et al. Environ Sci Technol (2019).
¹⁴ Xue et al. Environ Sci Technol (2017).
¹⁵ Lacasse & Baumann. Textile Chemicals (Springer, 2004).
¹⁶ Gavigan et al. PLoS ONE (2020).
¹⁷ Michishita et al. Environ Pollut (2023).