With California legislators targeting microplastics in wastewater, TRSA is building a convincing case that the industry is not a significant discharger of these materials. As regulators are pressed to find sources as the ocean volume of waste plastic grows, they are looking upstream from publicly owned treatment works (POTWs) at what sewer users put down the drain.

Because this issue surfaced sooner in Europe, the European Textile Services Association (ETSA) has been out front in reporting evidence to support the industry. The European data provides a foundation for TRSA to build its scientific inquiries to highlight home laundries’ greater impact ...