Last year David Suzuki published an article about a woman in Spokane, Washington who would drive to a neighbouring state to buy a phosphate-containing product to clean her dishes, as she believed the phosphate component was essential for good results.

Suzuki uses the story to illustrate the impact of choices we make concerning dishwashing, that impact the environment and the health of our families. He challenges us to consider the total life cycle of the products we use.

Phosphates have been used for years as very powerful detergents that cut grease and facilitate the cleansing process. But the trade-off for phosphates is large in the impact they have from wastewater on rivers, streams and lakes. The problem is that they cause large algae blooms in fresh water lakes and rivers, starve the water of oxygen and kill wildlife and plants. Canada became the first country to ban phosphorus from laundry detergents in 2008.   Canada also was first to require that phosphorus be removed from municipal sewage discharged into the Great Lakes. Many of the American states bordering the Great Lakes then followed Canada’s lead but it is only in 2010 that bans on dishwasher products in the US are being implemented.

At Green Cricket we offer a choice of phosphate free dishwasher products. Next month (April 2010) we are giving a free package of Greener Choice dishwasher tablets with every order. Try them – they work AND they are good for the environment.

Now is the time for you to choose to make a difference, one dish at a time!

[written by Trevor Smith]