Rep. Mike Levin Introduces Bill to Combat Microfiber Pollution
Bicameral Legislation Would Prevent Microfibers from Our Clothes Entering Our Waters & Bodies
Washington, D.C.—Today, Rep. Mike Levin (CA-49) introduced the Fighting Fibers Act, which would direct the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Department of Energy (DOE) to require the installation of a microfiber filtration system on new washing machines to address microfiber pollution and health impacts from clothing. A companion bill in the Senate was introduced by Sen. Jeff Merkley of Oregon.
Scientists estimate millions of tons of microfibers from clothing enter our water systems and oceans every year, making textiles the largest known source of microplastic pollution. Synthetic microfibers, found in clothing containing polyester, shed while being washed due to the friction and turbulence in the washing machine. Once in our waters, microfibers absorb and release toxins that harm wildlife and ultimately contaminate the food that we eat.
The Fighting Fibers Act would require washing machines sold in the U.S. to include a filter that would prevent microfibers in clothing from shedding into wastewater and eventually contaminating rivers, lakes, and oceans.
“Microfibers pose a serious threat to our waterways, oceans, and food supply and can ultimately end up in our bodies leading to serious health complications. Preventing them from entering our ecosystems is important to health and safety,” said Rep. Levin. “This bill provides a simple, targeted solution that offsets the environmental and health impacts of microfibers by stopping them in laundry cycles before they can enter our waters and bodies. I thank Sen. Merkley for his partnership on this bill, and I look forward to advancing it through the legislative process.”
“When it comes to plastics, most of us have been taught the three Rs: reduce, reuse, and recycle. The sinister reality is the three Bs: buried, burned, and borne out to sea, as dangerous chemicals poison our soil, air, and water,” said Sen. Merkley. “Microplastic pollution harms human health and our environment, and the Fighting Fibers Act is a simple fix to help consumers address the pollution from their clothes that is driving our global plastics crisis.”
“Microfibers are the most common type of microplastic pollution in our ocean and environment and have made their way everywhere from our drinking water to our blood streams. The scale and urgency of this crisis demand immediate action, and adding microfiber filters to washing machines is a common-sense and cost-effective solution available today to address this crisis. We applaud Senator Merkley and Representative Levin for championing the Fighting Fibers Act of 2025 to protect our ocean and our communities from dangerous microplastics,” said Dr. Anja Brandon, Director, Plastics Policy, Ocean Conservancy.
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