From https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-01-15/ ... /103321100
As we'd all have fleece products and those will produce microplastic pollution when washed I think the information may be of interest;
The biggest source of microplastic pollution is synthetic fabrics, which constantly shed them. Advanced waste water treatment plants can remove up to 99 per cent of microfibres, but a wash can produce millions of fibres.
At home we can;
- Wash full loads instead of partial loads reduces release of microfibres because garments are exposed to less friction during the wash cycle.
Use cold water, which releases fewer microfibres than hot water.
Use less detergent, which increases microfibre release.
Use a front-loading washing machine, whose tumbling action produces less microfibre release.
Dry laundry on a clothesline. Running clothes in dryers releases additional microfibres into the air from the dryer vent.
Some companies are now manufacturing washers with built-in microfibre filters. Australia has announced that filters will be required in commercial and residential washers by 2030.
