Fighting Fibers Act of 2025

The Fighting Fibers Act of 2025 would require all new washing machines sold in the United States to include a microfiber filtration system starting January 1, 2030. The filtration system must capture microfibers with a mesh size of 100 micrometers or meet an equivalent standard determined by the EPA Administrator (in coordination with the Secretary of Energy). Machines would also need a clear consumer label about the filter and lint disposal, and the Administrator could issue additional rulemakings to implement these requirements. Violations could trigger civil penalties, with up to $10,000 for a first offense and $30,000 for each subsequent one. The bill also directs a nationwide study on microfibers—how they enter people and the environment, potential health and environmental effects, and whether there are environmental-justice disparities—with a report due within one year of enactment. In addition to the machine standards, the bill establishes a definition of “microfiber,” and authorizes the EPA Administrator to conduct rulemaking with the Secretary of Energy to implement the filtration requirements. A savings provision preserves other legal rights and remedies. Overall, the bill aims to reduce microfiber pollution from laundry waste and to gather data on the broader impacts of microfibers.