One of the last chemical-laden household products I have been looking to replace is dishwashing detergent. I found dishwashing tablets by Ecover at the local supermarket that I've been using with good results. It turns out that the phosphate contained in most dishwashing liquids is not so great for the environment.
The state of Washington has led the way on this issue and passed a statewide ban on phosphate that is scheduled to start in 2010. Of course, after this became law other states, like Virginia, have followed like dominoes. Manufacturers will also have to make changes because it's not efficient to produce phosphate-free products for some states and phosphate-laden products for others. In reality, almost all dishwashing detergents will end up phosphate-free by 2010.
As far as I can tell, phosphate serves no function in cleaning dishes anyway. It's supposed to help create a "sparkling shine," but that's about it. Why you need all these chemicals to create dishwashing detergent I have no idea. You would think that a few simple ingedients (like soap!) would be enough.
Spokane County in Washington wants the phosphate ban to start now, not in 2010. They say that phosphate-free alternatives exist already, and that there is no need to wait. It's even summed up in this hilarious line from the article: ""This is not like breakthrough stem cell research."
