Phosphate ban on detergents, why the exception for commercial use?

[NeoPTLD]

Phosphates are already banned in most detergents, except dishwasher detergent.
Starting next year, State of WA is outlawing phosphates in RESIDENTIAL use dishwasher detergents, but exempts commercial and institutional users.

When it comes to hazardous wastes and such, commercial users are held to higher standards considering the volume they release.

Why would the state target consumer detergents while exempting cafeterias and restaurants to use the polluting chemicals in bulk?

What makes it necessary to create such an exception anyways?

http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/nonpoint/phosphorus/law.html

 

[PowerEngineer]

Interesting question. The Soap and Detergent Association says this:

Effective commercial dishwashing is critically important to maintaining public health standards and preventing the spread of food-borne illness.

Automatic dishwashing in institutional settings such as hospitals, nursing homes, universities, hotels, restaurants, and food and beverage processing plants plays a significant role in assuring public health standards which citizens have come to expect.

These public health-focused conditions result in a washing environment that differs significantly from that found in home dishwashing machines. The machines used in these settings use shorter wash and rinse cycles and higher temperatures in order to ensure that table and dinnerware are sanitized, while allowing them to handle greater workloads in stressful cleaning situations.

These factors make the continued use of phosphorus for these uses critical. Also, these uses do not have a significant effect on the overall level of phosphorous in the environment.

http://www.cleaning101.com/about/04-06-09.cfm

I presume these are the arguments the detergent industry used to gain the exemption, which probably contain at least a few grains of truth. As these phosphorous bans gain momentum, I'm guessing that these exemptions will eventually crumble too.

 

[NeoPTLD]

Interesting question. The Soap and Detergent Association says this:

Effective commercial dishwashing is critically important to maintaining public health standards and preventing the spread of food-borne illness.

Automatic dishwashing in institutional settings such as hospitals, nursing homes, universities, hotels, restaurants, and food and beverage processing plants plays a significant role in assuring public health standards which citizens have come to expect.

These public health-focused conditions result in a washing environment that differs significantly from that found in home dishwashing machines. The machines used in these settings use shorter wash and rinse cycles and higher temperatures in order to ensure that table and dinnerware are sanitized, while allowing them to handle greater workloads in stressful cleaning situations.

These factors make the continued use of phosphorus for these uses critical. Also, these uses do not have a significant effect on the overall level of phosphorous in the environment.

http://www.cleaning101.com/about/04-06-09.cfm

I presume these are the arguments the detergent industry used to gain the exemption, which probably contain at least a few grains of truth. As these phosphorous bans gain momentum, I'm guessing that these exemptions will eventually crumble too.

Phosphorus isn't used for sterilizing. It is less damaging to dishes than silicate additives they use and obviously, it's more cost effective as it allows the cycle to be completed sooner.

If it's cost effective for them, it's cost effective for us too.

 

[Tech_savy]

Phosphorus isn’t dangerous to humans, but in rivers and lakes, it spurs algae growth that can pull oxygen from the
water, killing fish. The problem has been intense in Long Lake, where treated wastewater along the Spokane River
ultimately flows.

 

[jimhsu]

Right, phosphorous in most aquatic ecosystems is a limiting resource. The reason we get eutrophication (ugly green lakes) is largely due to runoffs from nearby land or industrial runoffs like phosphorous, which cause algae and cyanobacteria to outcompete and oxygen starve other marine life.

That said, perhaps there are marginal benefits that permit phosphorous use in commercial settings. Maybe.

 

[ShawnD1]

Phosphates are already banned in most detergents, except dishwasher detergent.
Starting next year, State of WA is outlawing phosphates in RESIDENTIAL use dishwasher detergents, but exempts commercial and institutional users.

Industry is allowed to use hard core stuff because they are generally watched a bit more. As an example of this, I've seen people pour used motor oil on their lawn because they didn't feel like collecting it. A large place like Mr Lube would never be able to do that because it would be easily noticed and reported immediately.

Business places can use hard core cleaners because they are forced to follow strict standards for how it is used or disposed of. Business also have a much smaller impact on the environment since you're talking about 1,000 stores instead of 100,000 residences.