NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A4716D
SPONSOR: Kelles TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the general business law, in relation to enacting the
"washing machine microfiber filtration act"
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
to require that all new washing machines offered for sale in New York
State contain a microfiber filtration system in order to protect against
the entry of harmful substances into the water supply
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Sec. 1- short title: "Washing Machine Microfiber Filter Act"
Sec. 2 - Amends general business law by adding a new section 396-uu to
require that, beginning January 1, 2030, all new washing machines
offered for sale in New York shall contain a microfiber filtration
system that removes 90% of fibers and microfibers that are 100 microme-
ters or larger; provides for exemptions for distributors and retailers;
allows distributors and retailers to sell off their stock of washing
machines acquired before 2030 without microfiber filtration systems
until the end of 2030; provides for penalties;
Sec. 3 - effective date
JUSTIFICATION:
Microplastics, that is, plastics less than 5 millimeters in length, are
a growing concern due to their ubiquity and persistence in the environ-
ment and potential effects on ecological and human health. It is esti-
mated that as much as one third of the plastics in the oceans are from
microplastics directly released into the environment, known as "primary
microplastics", and microfibers from the laundering of synthetic
textiles make up around one third of the primary microplastics in the
oceans.
One significant pathway by which synthetic microfibers enter the envi-
ronment is the washing of textiles made from plastic-like materials like
polyester. When textiles are washed, detached microfibers enter the
wastewater and can pass through wastewater treatment plants to surface
waters or get incorporated into biosolids that get applied to land.
Microfibers from textiles may also be released during the textile
production process, from general consumer use, from drying machines, and
from landfills and incineration. This bill would require microfiber
filtration systems in new washing machines sold in our state, thereby
significantly reducing a major source of microplastics in our waters.
FISCAL IMPACT:
none
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
new bill
EFFECTIVE DATE:
immediately
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
4716--D
Cal. No. 129
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 5, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. KELLES, COLTON, LEVENBERG, ROSENTHAL -- read once
and referred to the Committee on Consumer Affairs and Protection --
committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and
recommitted to said committee -- again reported from said committee
with amendments, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said
committee -- reported and referred to the Committee on Codes --
reported and referred to the Committee on Rules -- Rules Committee
discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted
to the Committee on Rules -- ordered to a third reading, amended and
ordered reprinted, retaining its place on the order of third reading
AN ACT to amend the general business law, in relation to enacting the
"washing machine microfiber filtration act"
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "washing
2 machine microfiber filtration act".
3 § 2. The general business law is amended by adding a new section 396-
4 uu to read as follows:
5 § 396-uu. Sale of washing machines; microfiber filtration. 1. Defi-
6 nitions. As used in this section, the following terms shall have the
7 following meanings:
8 a. "Microfiber filtration system" means a filter or other feature, or
9 a series of filters or other features, built into a washing machine or
10 packaged, sold, and installed with a washing machine that removes from
11 water used across all washing cycles ninety percent or more of fibers
12 and microfibers that are one hundred micrometers or larger.
13 b. "Washing machine" means a machine designed and used for washing
14 clothes and linen.
15 2. a. On and after January first, two thousand thirty, no new washing
16 machines shall be offered for sale or sold in the state without a micro-
17 fiber filtration system.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08159-06-6
A. 4716--D 2
1 b. All new washing machines sold for residential use in the state with
2 a microfiber filtration system on or after January first, two thousand
3 thirty shall bear a conspicuous sticker or other label that is visible
4 to the consumer and that includes the following statement: "Notice: This
5 washing machine includes a filtration system to capture microfibers."
6 Such statement shall be followed by instructions regarding the manner
7 and frequency with which the consumer should check the system's filters
8 or other features and dispose of any fibers or microfibers captured.
9 c. All new washing machines sold for commercial use in the state with
10 a microfiber filtration system on or after January first, two thousand
11 thirty shall contain the sticker or other label described in paragraph b
12 of this subdivision, however such sticker or other label may be placed
13 in a location that is not visible to users of such commercial washing
14 machine.
15 3. a. A manufacturer of a washing machine that is subject to the
16 requirements of subdivision two of this section shall provide each
17 person that offers such washing machine for sale or distribution in the
18 state with a certificate of compliance stating that the washing machine
19 is in compliance with the requirements of this section and contains a
20 microfiber filtration system. A certificate of compliance provided
21 pursuant to this subdivision shall be signed by an authorized official
22 of the manufacturer. The certificate of compliance may be provided elec-
23 tronically.
24 b. A distributor or retailer of a washing machine that is subject to
25 the requirements of this section shall not be held in violation of this
26 section if the distributor or retailer is not also the manufacturer of
27 the washing machine and relied in good faith on the certificate of
28 compliance provided by the manufacturer pursuant to paragraph a of this
29 subdivision.
30 4. The department of environmental conservation may adopt any rules or
31 regulations it deems necessary for the implementation of the provisions
32 of this section, including standards and procedures for determining
33 whether a washing machine is compliant with the provisions of this
34 section.
35 5. Upon an action brought by the attorney general, a city attorney, a
36 county counsel, or a district attorney, a person or entity that violates
37 this section shall be liable for a civil penalty not to exceed five
38 hundred dollars for the first violation, and not to exceed one thousand
39 dollars for each subsequent violation.
40 § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
