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Suds-Smugglers Thwart Eco-Friendly Law

Residents say only outlaw high-phosphate detergents get their dishes clean enough

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Mar 28, 2009 6:13 AM CDT

(Newser) – Spokane, Washington's pioneering ban on high-phosphorus dishwasher detergents has led some residents to pioneer detergent-smuggling, reports the AP. People complaining that the eco-friendly detergents don't get their dishes as clean as the old kind regularly cross over into Idaho to stock up. Retailers near the border say their detergent sales have surged as much as 10% since the ban began.

Green groups acknowledge that the ban—introduced to tackle lake pollution and due to be made statewide next year—is unpopular, but urge people to experiment with different brands and water softeners instead of turning to bootleg suds. "Clean lakes and clean dishes do not have to be mutually exclusive," said the head of the Washington Lake Protection Association.

[Images (4)]

[Quotes (1)]

John, left, and P.J Demakas look at a box of phosphate-free dishwasher detergent at the Huckleberries Fresh Market area inside a Rosauers Supermarket in Spokane, Wash. (AP Photo/Young Kwak)

Phosphate-free dishwasher detergent at a Rosauers Supermarket in Spokane, Wash. (AP Photo/Young Kwak)

Employee Jesse McCauley stocks some phosphate-free dishwashing machine detergent at a Rosauers Supermarket in Spokane, Wash. (AP Photo/Young Kwak)

Shannon Brattebo poses for a photograph behind two boxes of phosphate-free dishwasher detergent in Spokane, Wash. (AP Photo/Young Kwak)

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Yes, I am a smuggler. I'm taking my chances because dirty dishes I cannot live with. - a Spokane resident stocking up on detergent over the border in Idaho

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COMMENTS

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Showing 2 of 2 comments

riffran

Mar 28, 2009 11:32 AM CDT

wasn't this an issue before? Like in the late 70's early 80's?....I thought they had stopped the high phosporus stuff then?....Geuss not

Derni

Mar 28, 2009 1:33 AM CDT

Some brands still have qusnities of phosphates in them-people have to realize that in order to save our waters-the next oil by the way (clean freah H2O) we have to use eco friendly dish sop. Please do.The Gov't should ban the sale of any detergent with phospate in it and be done with it.

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environment • pollutants • Washington state • smuggler • detergent • phosphorus

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Suds-Smugglers Thwart Eco-Friendly Law