No More Phosphates

On July 1, Illinois was one of 16 states to begin a dishwasher detergent phosphate ban, according to a recent report from Environmental Leader.

Why does it matter? The phosphates in our dishwashing products are washed down the drain and eventually end up in our waterways, where they promote plant and algae growth. Bacteria increase to feed on the plants and algae when they die, and these bacteria reduce the oxygen available for other water wildlife. (You may have heard the term "algae blooms" before. That's the result of phosphates in our waterways.)

That's why the U.S. banned high phosphate levels in laundry detergents quite a while ago. The always informative Umbra over at Grist explains in this Q&A why dish detergents have lagged behind. And even this change doesn't mean all detergents must have the maximum 0.5 percent phosphorous levels laid out in the new ban, because commercial detergents are exempt.
 
You probably won't see much of a change on store shelves, because most manufacturers are simply offering the usual brands in low-phosphate formulas. Still, it's still best to opt for eco-friendly options for all your dishwashing needs.
 
Why? Because phosphates are only one of many problematic ingredients.

Dishwasher detergents and liquids often contain toxic chemicals that contribute to indoor air pollution. And some chemicals such as petroleum, alkyphenol ethoxylates, and ethoxylated alcohols have been shown to harm human, animal, and ecosystem health and contaminate waterways and drinking water. Learn more about ingredients to avoid over at The Green Guide.

As if that doesn't make searching for the right detergents difficult enough, remember that terms such as "natural," "nontoxic," "eco-safe," and "environmentally friendly" are not regulated at all, which means anyone can slap them on their labels whether they're actually better for the environment or not.

Lucky you, we're going to address that very topic on the LLCC Green blog soon. In the meantime, check out Ecover, Seventh Generation, and Naturally Yours, all of which offer less toxic dishwashing products.

Photo: Telstar Logistics via Flickr