Washing Machines Must Filter Microfibers by 2030: New Bill Targets Plastic Pollution

The Fighting Fibers Act of 2025 is a straight-up environmental regulation targeting the tiny plastic strands—microfibers—that shed from our clothes every time we do laundry. Essentially, this bill says that if you make or sell a new washing machine in the U.S., it needs to have a built-in filter to catch those fibers before they head down the drain and into our waterways. This isn’t a suggestion; it’s a mandate that kicks in on January 1, 2030, and applies to both home washers and commercial laundromat machines. The minimum standard is a filter mesh no bigger than 100 micrometers—which is tiny—unless the EPA Administrator and the Secretary of Energy agree on an equally effective alternative standard.

The Laundry List of Changes: What This Means for Your Next Washer

Starting in 2030, when you buy a new washer, it will be fundamentally different. The biggest change is the required microfiber filtration system, which must be either integrated into the machine or sold as a complete, in-line unit (SEC. 3). Think of it like the lint trap in your dryer, but for your washing machine. This is a direct shot at reducing the estimated millions of microplastic pieces released into the environment daily, and it puts the onus on manufacturers to engineer a solution. The bill also requires a mandatory, visible label on the machine that tells you, the consumer, to “Check filter regularly and dispose of captured lint in a waste bin.” This means consumers are now part of the solution, having to maintain the filter to ensure it works—a small new chore, but one that directly prevents pollution.

Who Pays for the Filter, and Who Gets Fined?

For consumers, this likely means a slight increase in the cost of a new washing machine, as manufacturers will pass on the cost of redesign and the new filtration component. For manufacturers, the stakes are high: if they sell a non-compliant machine after the 2030 deadline, they face civil penalties up to $10,000 for the first offense, and a hefty $30,000 for each subsequent violation (SEC. 3). This is a clear signal that the government is serious about compliance. The bill does give the EPA and Energy Department some wiggle room to set an alternative standard if they find a better way to achieve the same pollution reduction, but that alternative must be proven to be “just as effective” as the 100-micrometer mesh standard.

Getting the Facts: A Nationwide Microfiber Study

Beyond regulating appliances, the bill mandates a serious scientific effort (SEC. 4). The EPA Administrator must launch a nationwide study to figure out exactly where microfibers are, how they get there, and whether they are actually harming human health and the environment. Crucially, the study must also specifically examine if the presence of these microfibers disproportionately affects environmental justice communities—areas often hit hardest by pollution. The EPA has just one year from the bill’s signing to get this comprehensive report out to Congress and the public. This research component is key; it ensures future policy is based on solid data, moving beyond just regulating one source (washing machines) to understanding the full scope of the microfiber problem.