Erie County Legislature Chairman John Mills cosponsored a local law that was passed unanimously at the July 30, 2015 session to ban the sale of cosmetics containing microbeads.

“We have seen many companies already voluntarily provide organic alternatives to plastic microbeads, and I appreciate their willingness and understanding to help address the issue. But the hope for this law is to further expand protection of our local waterways and fresh water resources from contamination. I’d like to thank Legislator Burke for his efforts and my colleagues in the legislature for their support," Chairman Mills said. 

The law bans the sale of any cosmetics or personal care products that contain intentionally added plastic particles measuring five millimeters or less. These particles, too small to be caught by water filtration systems, reenter our water ways and have disastrous effects on their ecosystems.  These microplastic particles now account for 90% of the new pollutants found in Lake Erie.