MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Gov. Scott Walker has signed a bill that bans microbeads, the plastic exfoliant in soap, toothpaste and other personal care products. Scientists recently discovered that microbeads are flowing by the billions from wastewater plants into the Great Lakes and other water bodies. Manufacturers have already started substituting microbeads with natural substances including ground-up fruit pits, oatmeal and sea salt. The bill would ban making personal care products containing microbeads starting in 2018 and disallow sales of products with microbeads starting in 2019. Walker signed the bill Wednesday. The Senate passed the proposal in March and the Assembly followed suit in April.
