Plastic microbeads are much as their name describes: very small balls of plastic, ranging in size from 1 millimetere down to 10 micrometres. Microbeads are widely used in cosmetics as exfoliating agents and also hygeine products such as toothpaste, though they have other scientific uses. Plastic microbeads are most frequently made of polyethylene but can made be of other petrochemical plastics.

There's been increasing concern about the hazard microbeads pose when disposed of in waste water. Every day trillions of these tiny plastic beads travel into our waterways, and because they pass through sewage treatment plants without being filtered out their disposal results in plastic particle water pollution.

Once in aquatic and marine environments, microbeads are consumed by shellfish and fish and will likely make their way back to us through seafood. The most frustrating aspect is that natural, biodegradable products can be substituted to perform the task of plastic microbeads. There's no need for polyethlene or petrochemicals.

The Senate Environment and Communications References Committee is holding a public hearing in Sydney on Thursday, 18 February 2016 at The Portside Centre – 207 Kent St, Sydney. Surfrider Foundation is invited to appear before the Committee at this hearing to support legislation via a private members bill to ban the use of microbeads in personal care and laundry products. 

Surfrider will call on all members of parliament to endorse this bill so Australia can remove plastic microbeads from our waterways. Plastic pollution of our waterways and oceans is a major environmental and human health issue requiring urgent attention.

Please share and ask your friends to support Surfrider Foundation and sign their petition. You'll also find more information on the banning of microbeads when you click the link.