Bill 102 explained in plain English
Environmental Protection Amendment Act (Mircrofiber Filters for Washing Machines), 2022
Ontario legislature bill summary, status, timeline, sponsor, votes, and official sources.
At a glance
Official Legislative Assembly of Ontario snapshot for 42nd Parliament, 2nd Session. Representative vote breakdowns appear when the Assembly publishes an Ayes and Nays page for the bill.
Our plain-language take, written for civic education.
Source: By PoliticalData.ca
This bill amends Ontario's Environmental Protection Act to require that all washing machines sold or offered for sale must be equipped with a microfiber filter that can remove particles of 100 microns or smaller.
Bill 102 adds a new requirement to Ontario's Environmental Protection Act. Starting two years after the bill received Royal Assent, washing machines offered for sale or sold in Ontario must have a filter designed to remove microfibers—tiny fabric particles that wash out of clothing. The filter must capture particles of 100 microns or smaller in size, though the Minister may set stricter standards through regulation if needed. Anyone who sells or offers to sell a washing machine without this filter can be fined. For individuals, the maximum fine is $1,000 for the first unit and $2,000 for each additional unit. For corporations, the maximum fine is $2,000 for the first unit and $5,000 for each additional unit.
- Adds a new section (88.1) to the Environmental Protection Act that prohibits selling or offering for sale any washing machine that does not have a microfiber filter
- Specifies that the microfiber filter must have a maximum mesh size of 100 microns or smaller (or smaller if the Minister prescribes by regulation)
- Creates a new offence section (90) with financial penalties for violations
- Establishes different penalty amounts for individuals and corporations, with higher penalties for repeat violations
- Sets the commencement date as two years after Royal Assent
- Washing machine manufacturers who sell or offer washing machines for sale in Ontario
- Retailers who sell washing machines in Ontario
- Importers of washing machines into Ontario
- Consumers purchasing washing machines in Ontario (indirectly, through product availability and pricing)
- Manufacturers, retailers, and importers must ensure all washing machines offered for sale or sold have a microfiber filter meeting the 100-micron standard or smaller
- The Minister may prescribe an even smaller mesh size through regulation
- Any person who violates the prohibition is subject to criminal prosecution and fines
- Bill received Royal Assent in 2022 (exact date not specified in the text)
- The bill comes into force on the second anniversary of Royal Assent (approximately 2024, exact date depends on when Royal Assent occurred)
- Manufacturers and retailers may face costs to redesign or source washing machines with compliant microfiber filters
- Potential fines ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 per unit for non-compliance, depending on whether the seller is an individual or corporation and whether it is a repeat violation
- For individuals: maximum fine of $1,000 for the first washing machine unit sold or offered for sale without the required filter
- For individuals: maximum fine of $2,000 for each subsequent unit sold or offered for sale without the required filter
- For corporations: maximum fine of $2,000 for the first washing machine unit sold or offered for sale without the required filter
- For corporations: maximum fine of $5,000 for each subsequent unit sold or offered for sale without the required filter
- Penalties are imposed upon conviction
- The bill text does not specify the exact date of Royal Assent, so the precise commencement date cannot be determined from the information provided
- The bill allows the Minister to prescribe a smaller mesh size than 100 microns through regulation, but no details are provided about what that smaller size might be or when it might be set
- The bill does not specify what constitutes a 'microfiber filter' in technical terms beyond the 100-micron mesh size requirement
- It is unclear whether the requirement applies to all types of washing machines (e.g., front-load, top-load, commercial) or if there are any exemptions
- The bill does not specify enforcement mechanisms or which provincial agency is responsible for inspection and enforcement
Two new sections are added to this act: section 88.1 creates a prohibition against selling washing machines without microfiber filters, and section 90 creates penalties for violating this prohibition
Source: Section 1 and Section 2 of Bill 102
Generated using AI from official bill text. Not legal advice. It is written by PoliticalData.ca for civic education, automatically checked and spot-reviewed before publishing.
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Vote Summary
This bill is still active. We only show vote counts after the legislature publishes a recorded division.
No published representative vote breakdown
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Official sources
Status, sponsor, votes, and timeline on this page are drawn from these official legislative sources and public records. Each summary above is attributed to its own source.
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