Plastic Microfibres
Microplastics, or tiny plastic pieces, fall into two categories: primary and secondary. Secondary microplastics are more well-known. They are formed by the breakdown of plastic items in the environment, which is why it’s important to cut down on the plastics we purchase. Primary microplastics, however, are made very small to begin with. They can be found in some cosmetics, in paint that’s used to paint lines on the road, and in the fibres that make up synthetic textiles.
Fibres from synthetic textiles like acrylic and polyester are shaken loose during washing and are taken to the wastewater treatment facility with the water. They are not always filtered out from there, and can be released into the environment with the clean water.
Here at ECW, we’re trying to stop microplastic fibres before they even leave the washing machine. It’s like emptying the lint catcher on your drying machine! Technologies like the Guppyfriend laundry bag, and the Lint LUV-R laundry filter can capture fibers that shake loose during washing so that they can be sent to the landfill instead of out to the wastewater treatment facility with the rest of the water. We have purchased more than 250 laundry bags to be distributed within Charlotte County. We have also purchased 20 laundry filters to give to businesses within our community.
