Washblog

House Bill 2322: This bill limits the phosphorus content of automatic dish detergent. This is precedent setting legislation and is up for a vote in the House of Representatives in the next 24-48 hours. We need calls of support into legislators. Please make a call or send an email to your legislator now. Tell them you support HB2322 for Clean Dishes and Clean Water.

Contact your legislator at 1.800.562.6000 to leave a message or visit www.leg.wa.gov and click on find my legislator to email all the state legislators in your district.

Key Points:

*    Phosphates from automatic dish detergent have created major water quality problems.  
*    Phosphorous or blue-green algae pollution poses problems in Lake Whatcom, Vancouver Lake, the Spokane River and many other rivers and streams around the state.
*    Washington State already limits the phosphate content of laundry detergent; this bill extends that limit to automatic dish detergent.
*    Safe, phosphate-free automatic dish detergents are already on the market and among the most effective. Consumer Reports gives these products a big thumbs up and notes that it's the enzymes in the detergent not the phosphates that get dishes clean. Trader Joe's, Seventh Generation, Bi-O-Kleen, and Ecover offer these phosphate-free detergents.

Visit www.cascade.sierraclub.org for more information

Support Energy Independence Through Renewable Fuels  

Visit www.independentfuels.org to take action.

Background:

A collaborative team of grassroots organizations, businesses, faith and labor groups and farmers are working to pass Governor Request legislation for a Renewable Fuels Standard  -- House Bill (SHB) 2738 and Senate Bill (SSB) 6508.  These bill call for replacing 2% of our diesel with biodiesel and 2% of our gasoline with ethanol, with increases for both as in-state production capacity expands.  The Renewable Fuel Standard bill will:

*    Reduce global warming pollution from cars, the number one cause of global warming pollution in Washington state.
*    Put Washington on the road to energy independence by reducing our dependence on imported petroleum.
*    Create new, reliable markets for Washington state farmers' crops.