A state lawmaker wants to keep dishwashing detergents that contain phosphorous off of store shelves in Wisconsin.
Lawmakers already approved a ban earlier this session on lawn fertilizers containing phosphorous. State Representative Spencer Black (D-Madison) is proposing another bill to keep the pollutant out of our water supplies, which he says is responsible for algae blooms and excess weed growth that detract from the natural beauty of lakes and streams.
Phosphorous is already banned from the majority of soaps, but there's an exemption for products used in automatic dishwashers. The bill would add those products to the list. Black says major companies that make the detergents have agreed to the change, and will have until summer of 2010 to get new products on the market that are phosphorous free.
Black says the ban is not expected to increase prices.
